We continue to plan and prepare for our journey to be in and participate in the Uganda, Africa COGOP National Convention.* Karen is also continuing to bake items for sale to help with our trip and for an offering for the ministry in Uganda. She is also making crochet scarfs to keep warm for $10-12 each. This is a good time to order homemade coconut cakes for Christmas or scarfs for the cold days ahead. You can order other baked items as well (send FB message). We have realized approximately $800.00 in donations and have raised about $225.00 in profits from bake and scarf sales.
The date for departure is planned for January 18th. The National Convention is scheduled for January 22-26. We will be in flight 2.5 days total for the round trip. We will arrive late January 19th or early January 21st. Overseer, Ntezimana James has advised that we arrive a day early to rest before the convention and to rest a day or two after the convention before we board on January 28th to return on January 29th.
We are continuing to get the needed items together for the flight and stay in Uganda. Here is a brief list of items we have completed or need to complete for the journey to Uganda....
1. Shots for hepatitis A and B (Milton had first round, Karen to take First round Next week)
2. Shots for Yellow Fever (appointment scheduled for Wed., Dec. 4, 4 pm for consult and shots)
3. Malaria medication (to be prescribed the week before we leave)
4. Application for Visas (to be mailed with yellow fever documentation and other items of identity)
5. Flight plan, schedule and tickets, travel meals to and from, other misc. expense
6. Luggage, clothing and other items for trip and stay of 7-8 days
7. Prayer for the Uganda COGOP National Convention.
Those who wish to donate (any amount is appreciated) can send it to Church of God of Prophecy, P. O. Box 2319, Hendersonville, TN 37077. Earmark it for either the trip or the offering to Uganda, Africa COGOP. We plan to bring a good offering for the ministry in Uganda.
Most of all, your prayer support and covering is needed above all else.
*You can read more detail about the trip in a previous post on this BLOG site. Click here.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Weekly Update On Uganda, Africa Trip
We continue to plan and prepare for our journey to be in the Uganda, Africa COGOP National Convention.* Karen is also continuing to bake items for sale to help with our trip and for an offering for the ministry in Uganda. This is a good time to order homemade coconut cakes for Thanksgiving (today is the last day) and for Christmas. You can order other baked items as well (send FB message). Here is a brief list of items we have completed or need to complete for the journey to Uganda....
1. Shots for hepatitis A & B (Milton had first round, Karen to take First round Monday 23rd)
2. Shots for Yellow Fever (scheduling shot appt., taking shots and securing documentation for entry to Uganda)
3. Malaria medication (to be prescribed the week before we leave)
4. Application for Visas (to be mailed with yellow fever documentation and other items of identity)
5. Flight plan, schedule and tickets, travel meals to and from, other misc. expense
6. Luggage, clothing and other items for trip and stay of 7-8 days
7. Prayer for the Uganda COGOP National Convention.
Those who wish to donate (any amount is appreciated) can send it to Church of God of Prophecy, P. O. Box 2319, Hendersonville, TN 37077. Earmark it for either the trip or the offering to Uganda, Africa COGOP.
Most of all, your prayer support and covering is needed more than anything.
*You can read more detail about the trip in a previous post on this BLOG site. Click here.
1. Shots for hepatitis A & B (Milton had first round, Karen to take First round Monday 23rd)
2. Shots for Yellow Fever (scheduling shot appt., taking shots and securing documentation for entry to Uganda)
3. Malaria medication (to be prescribed the week before we leave)
4. Application for Visas (to be mailed with yellow fever documentation and other items of identity)
5. Flight plan, schedule and tickets, travel meals to and from, other misc. expense
6. Luggage, clothing and other items for trip and stay of 7-8 days
7. Prayer for the Uganda COGOP National Convention.
Those who wish to donate (any amount is appreciated) can send it to Church of God of Prophecy, P. O. Box 2319, Hendersonville, TN 37077. Earmark it for either the trip or the offering to Uganda, Africa COGOP.
Most of all, your prayer support and covering is needed more than anything.
*You can read more detail about the trip in a previous post on this BLOG site. Click here.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Update On Uganda, Africa Trip
The progress of our Uganda, Africa trip is moving along well. Karen continues to bake homemade coconut cakes for $20.00 (I help her some). If you want one for Thanksgiving we need to know no later than Friday of this week. Anyone in the Nashville, Ashland City, Dickson and Waverly area can have one delivered this Sunday morning early or in the afternoon. Also anyone in the Nashville and Ashland City area can have one delivered on Mon., Tues., Wed. of next week. By Friday we will need your delivery address or where to meet to deliver the cake on Sunday. Cakes will keep in the fridge for several days and/or can be fozen. We will bake some as well for Christmas. Karen is baking other items as well (caramel pies and more) Leave message for what you may want on FB and we will let you know. We are using the funds for the trip and for an offering for the Uganda ministries.
We thank those who are praying and have already given funds (some have given through the Waverly COGOP). Karen and my daughter Sarah are planning to go on this trip. Donations can be mailed to the state office earmarked for Uganda trip. (Church of God of Prophecy, P.O. Box 2319, Hendersonville, TN 37077).
Most of all, we ask for prayer support and covering for this journey.
Most of all, we ask for prayer support and covering for this journey.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Journey To Africa...
I am writing this post to offer information and to ask for prayer and support. I have been invited to participate in the Church of God of Prophecy National Convention in Jinja, Uganda.
A few years ago we had a special guest in our parsonage home for about twelve days. Bishop Ntezimana James, National Overseer of Uganda, Africa, visited with us after the General Assembly. He shared much about his nation, the people there and how the Church of God of Prophecy is growing as people are being born again into the kingdom of God and being added to the church. It was during this time that Bishop James and myself developed a good friendship. He preached a few times at the Huntingdon, TN COGOP where I was pastor at the time. I transported him around Tennessee to several churches where he ministered before I took him to Nashville to board his flight to Uganda. We have seen each other a few times in General Assemblies since around 2006 (if I remember correctly) and communicated on Facebook at irregular times over the past few years as often as possible since he has to use an Internet cafe for messaging. At various times over the past 6-7 years Bishop James has asked me to come visit and minister sometime there in Uganda and I have passed it off as his way of showing kindness to me. He has asked several times and I have told him that it would be better to have someone else come. A few weeks ago he asked me again to come and speak in the Uganda, COGOP National Convention. At first, I thought, well, here we go again, I will kindly say thank you for the invitation and suggest that he contact someone else. Then, I thought, I need to pray about this and told him I would pray and give him an answer. After praying about this and briefly speaking to a couple trusted friends, I believe it is the Lord's will for me to go. There is another twist to this that I will share here later.
A few years ago we had a special guest in our parsonage home for about twelve days. Bishop Ntezimana James, National Overseer of Uganda, Africa, visited with us after the General Assembly. He shared much about his nation, the people there and how the Church of God of Prophecy is growing as people are being born again into the kingdom of God and being added to the church. It was during this time that Bishop James and myself developed a good friendship. He preached a few times at the Huntingdon, TN COGOP where I was pastor at the time. I transported him around Tennessee to several churches where he ministered before I took him to Nashville to board his flight to Uganda. We have seen each other a few times in General Assemblies since around 2006 (if I remember correctly) and communicated on Facebook at irregular times over the past few years as often as possible since he has to use an Internet cafe for messaging. At various times over the past 6-7 years Bishop James has asked me to come visit and minister sometime there in Uganda and I have passed it off as his way of showing kindness to me. He has asked several times and I have told him that it would be better to have someone else come. A few weeks ago he asked me again to come and speak in the Uganda, COGOP National Convention. At first, I thought, well, here we go again, I will kindly say thank you for the invitation and suggest that he contact someone else. Then, I thought, I need to pray about this and told him I would pray and give him an answer. After praying about this and briefly speaking to a couple trusted friends, I believe it is the Lord's will for me to go. There is another twist to this that I will share here later.
Now, I am in the process of getting whatever is needed to make the journey. This is totally new to me and I am open for advise, suggestions and pointers from those who have made these types of journeys. I have a passport and need to get a visa. The the best plane ticket, round trip, on Delta is about $1500.00 for one person. I stress best, since it will get us there in about 30 hours with a couple layovers. Other flights are two or three days with all night layovers. I also plan to take an offering to the church in Uganda for furthering the work there. If you would like to give, mail it to the Church of God of Prophecy, State Office, P.O. Box 2319, Hendersonville, TN 37077-2319. The state office is best for the accounting of the funds since there is an independent audit each year. Bishop McKinley has agreed to do this and we are thankful. Also, if you wish to help us with our expenses on the trip, earmark it for trip expense. Please don't leave it blank. Put either for the trip expense or for the offering for Uganda.
LET ME BE CLEAR, Bishop James has never asked for any type of offering or funds in any of our conversations or messages. The only thing he has ever asked me for is a text book that he needed in studying leadership development. I tried to get it to him through Amazon but was unable to because of transport issues. I am boosting an offering for the work there on my own volition and asking God to help us with this grace also. Bishop James and the ministers there are working to reach new people and establish new churches. Here is part of a message he sent me this past January...."Here God has started blessing us with New field work. I opened one new church in Kisoro on 1st Jan.2013 and on sunday 6th i opened the 2nd one in Dokolo Town. what a blessing."
LET ME BE CLEAR, Bishop James has never asked for any type of offering or funds in any of our conversations or messages. The only thing he has ever asked me for is a text book that he needed in studying leadership development. I tried to get it to him through Amazon but was unable to because of transport issues. I am boosting an offering for the work there on my own volition and asking God to help us with this grace also. Bishop James and the ministers there are working to reach new people and establish new churches. Here is part of a message he sent me this past January...."Here God has started blessing us with New field work. I opened one new church in Kisoro on 1st Jan.2013 and on sunday 6th i opened the 2nd one in Dokolo Town. what a blessing."
Now for the twist to this trip that I mentioned earlier. My wife spoke to her principal briefly about me going to minister in Africa and what possibilities it would be for her to go with me. He was very positive about it and even encouraged her to go. She has some professional development days and is going to speak with the Human Resources department about going with me. In the next few days she will be working on this and we ask for prayer that it go according to God's will for her as well as for me. We believe God has this in His hands and we go simply to lift up Jesus, share the gospel, and build His kingdom as members and ministers in the Church of God of Prophecy.
We ask for prayer from those who will pray and support from any who believe God would have you to be a part of this journey financially. We have accepted the invitation with the understanding that we, personally, must count the cost and want to abound in this grace also. It is not a vacation or sightseeing trip, although, we plan and hope to enjoy the trip and see some sights along the way. It is a journey to minister for God, His glory and to minister to the people there. I am insufficient and inadequate to minister there but God is all-sufficient and Jesus has promised that the Holy Spirit will guide, empower and anoint. With continued prayer and preparation we will, by God's grace, make the journey, minister to the people, send and bring news back to share with others. We seek the Lord's guidance and wisdom in all of this.
POST-SCRIPT: Karen has been able to work out the time to be off through her principal and her main office. At this point it is a go for her to be with me. PTL!
POST-SCRIPT: Karen has been able to work out the time to be off through her principal and her main office. At this point it is a go for her to be with me. PTL!
Monday, September 30, 2013
Faith and Forgiveness - Inseparable
Faith simply is trusting something or someone. We often hear the word faith used casually. Someone may say, "I have faith that he or she will do what they said." Faith in the Scripture is more than a casual word. Faith is vital for a healthy relationship with God. "Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6) So without faith a person cannot please God. Without believing that God is and that diligently seeking HIM is top priority, one cannot please HIM.
Jesus encouraged and instructed his disciples to have faith in God. There are several occasions when He directly dealt with His disciples about their lack of faith. He addressed them sternly when a father brought a son to them for healing from a controlling evil spirit and they did not have the faith to see the boy healed. He addressed them in another Scripture about having faith to remove a mountain. He used mountain to compare with something else that oftentimes seems insurmountable in a person's life.
First, lets look at his encounter with the disciples after they did not have faith for a lad to be delivered from an evil spirit. They had seen many miracles previous to this encounter but when the father brought his son for prayer and deliverance they found themselves lacking in faith to see the boy healed. The father brought the boy to Christ and told the plight of his son. He clearly told Jesus that he brought the child to the disciples for deliverance and they could not help him. Jesus then says, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me." (Mark 9:19) Jesus gave the disciples a clear rebuke for their lack of faith. The boy was then brought to Jesus but the evil spirit acted out throwing the boy on the ground foaming at the mouth. Jesus then asked the father how long ago since the boy was first attacked by the evil spirit. The father told him since he was a child and that the spirit sometimes threw him into the fire and sometime in the water. He then asked for compassion to heal the boy. Jesus then says, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." (Mark 9:23) The father then cried out with tears, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." The man humbly confesses and cries out for help for the unbelief in his life. Jesus then rebuked the foul spirit when he saw the multitude running together towards them. The evil spirit convulsed the boy and threw him to the ground foaming at the mouth.
The one emphasis in the passage is clear - Jesus was emphatic to the disciples and the father about the need of believing or having faith in God. When the boy was on the ground silent and still, like he was dead after the evil spirit was cast out, Jesus reached down and lifted the boy up delivered, healed and whole. When Jesus went into the house his disciples asked why they could not cast the evil spirit out. He told them, "Because of your unbelief, for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matthew 17:20) Here we see Jesus clearly and pointedly telling the disciples that they could not cast out the evil spirit because of their lack of faith. It is not coincidental that He uses the analogy of faith to remove a mountain. He is driving home the necessity of faith in God. In the next verse he tells them that prayer and fasting brings about faith in God which brings God's healing and intervention. The fasting and prayer deals with the fleshly me and I type of faith and focuses on faith in God.
There is another mountainous analogy that we find our Lord speaking to the disciples about in dealing with faith. It is on the occasion of Christ driving money changers out of the temple and saying my house shall be called a house of prayer. He also had passed by a fig tree and cursed it because there was no fruit on it to eat. The next day when He and the disciples passed by the fig tree it was withered away. Peter acknowledged the dried up fig tree and Jesus used the opportunity to teach about faith saying, "Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them, AND when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also in heaven may forgive your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven for your trespasses." (Mark 11:22-26) Notice here in the Scripture that the conjunction AND continues the thought Jesus is teaching His disciples on faith moving the mountain and casting it into the sea. Is the mountain that Jesus is speaking of unforgiveness? Isn't it clear that faith in God is contingent upon forgiveness? Isn't it true that one cannot pray the prayer of faith and cannot receive the forgiveness of God when there is reluctant or rebellious unforgivenness in a person's life? One cannot have faith in God when praying with unforgiveness his/her heart. Jesus continues his statement with reference to forgiveness when we pray, "AND when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any.." If there is a reluctant or rebellious lack of forgiveness in the praying person would it not delay, diminish or even delete faith unless or until forgiveness is given? Faith and forgiveness are inseparable.
Is it not amazing and that Jesus seizes this opportunity to teach the disciples a lesson on faith and forgiveness? There are people in ministry that emphasize faith yet have rebellious unforgiveness in their lives and hearts. There are ministers who preach a faith word ministry but hardly deal with issues of offenses and forgiveness. When forgiveness is exercised in a person's life faith is increased. When faith is exercised forgiveness becomes the focus. Faith and forgiveness are inseparable and dynamically congruent. When prayer to God and forgiveness to others and ourselves are offered and given faith is the fruit. Forgiveness is the catalyst for faith in God when forgiveness is needed in the praying person. The mountain of loss, hurt and anger are cast into the sea of healing by the prayer of forgiveness-faith. Loss will come in life. Hurt will come in life. Anger will come at times but does not have to be acted out as sin when forgiveness is chosen. The prayer of forgiveness-faith in the faithful God of faith and forgiveness will bring the victory through the Supreme Forgiver - Jesus Christ. Those who pray to God with loss, hurt and anger simply ask the Holy Spirit to help them focus on the Supreme Forgiver and pray the prayer of forgiveness-faith. The prayer can simply be, "Father of all forgiveness and faith, I come to you through your Son who hung on the cross and cried, 'Father forgive them for they know not what they do,' and now I forgive and pray in faith, believing that my prayer will be heard and answered. I ask forgiveness for the anger that I have allowed myself to be captured in, I forgive that person who caused loss and hurt in my life and I thank you for the forgiving spirit that you have given me to forgive the loss and hurt that I have experienced. Now, O Mighty God of faithfulness and forgiveness, this mountain is removed and cast into the sea of healing grace." AMEN! AMEN! and AMEN!
Jesus encouraged and instructed his disciples to have faith in God. There are several occasions when He directly dealt with His disciples about their lack of faith. He addressed them sternly when a father brought a son to them for healing from a controlling evil spirit and they did not have the faith to see the boy healed. He addressed them in another Scripture about having faith to remove a mountain. He used mountain to compare with something else that oftentimes seems insurmountable in a person's life.
First, lets look at his encounter with the disciples after they did not have faith for a lad to be delivered from an evil spirit. They had seen many miracles previous to this encounter but when the father brought his son for prayer and deliverance they found themselves lacking in faith to see the boy healed. The father brought the boy to Christ and told the plight of his son. He clearly told Jesus that he brought the child to the disciples for deliverance and they could not help him. Jesus then says, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me." (Mark 9:19) Jesus gave the disciples a clear rebuke for their lack of faith. The boy was then brought to Jesus but the evil spirit acted out throwing the boy on the ground foaming at the mouth. Jesus then asked the father how long ago since the boy was first attacked by the evil spirit. The father told him since he was a child and that the spirit sometimes threw him into the fire and sometime in the water. He then asked for compassion to heal the boy. Jesus then says, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." (Mark 9:23) The father then cried out with tears, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." The man humbly confesses and cries out for help for the unbelief in his life. Jesus then rebuked the foul spirit when he saw the multitude running together towards them. The evil spirit convulsed the boy and threw him to the ground foaming at the mouth.
The one emphasis in the passage is clear - Jesus was emphatic to the disciples and the father about the need of believing or having faith in God. When the boy was on the ground silent and still, like he was dead after the evil spirit was cast out, Jesus reached down and lifted the boy up delivered, healed and whole. When Jesus went into the house his disciples asked why they could not cast the evil spirit out. He told them, "Because of your unbelief, for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matthew 17:20) Here we see Jesus clearly and pointedly telling the disciples that they could not cast out the evil spirit because of their lack of faith. It is not coincidental that He uses the analogy of faith to remove a mountain. He is driving home the necessity of faith in God. In the next verse he tells them that prayer and fasting brings about faith in God which brings God's healing and intervention. The fasting and prayer deals with the fleshly me and I type of faith and focuses on faith in God.
There is another mountainous analogy that we find our Lord speaking to the disciples about in dealing with faith. It is on the occasion of Christ driving money changers out of the temple and saying my house shall be called a house of prayer. He also had passed by a fig tree and cursed it because there was no fruit on it to eat. The next day when He and the disciples passed by the fig tree it was withered away. Peter acknowledged the dried up fig tree and Jesus used the opportunity to teach about faith saying, "Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them, AND when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also in heaven may forgive your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven for your trespasses." (Mark 11:22-26) Notice here in the Scripture that the conjunction AND continues the thought Jesus is teaching His disciples on faith moving the mountain and casting it into the sea. Is the mountain that Jesus is speaking of unforgiveness? Isn't it clear that faith in God is contingent upon forgiveness? Isn't it true that one cannot pray the prayer of faith and cannot receive the forgiveness of God when there is reluctant or rebellious unforgivenness in a person's life? One cannot have faith in God when praying with unforgiveness his/her heart. Jesus continues his statement with reference to forgiveness when we pray, "AND when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any.." If there is a reluctant or rebellious lack of forgiveness in the praying person would it not delay, diminish or even delete faith unless or until forgiveness is given? Faith and forgiveness are inseparable.
Is it not amazing and that Jesus seizes this opportunity to teach the disciples a lesson on faith and forgiveness? There are people in ministry that emphasize faith yet have rebellious unforgiveness in their lives and hearts. There are ministers who preach a faith word ministry but hardly deal with issues of offenses and forgiveness. When forgiveness is exercised in a person's life faith is increased. When faith is exercised forgiveness becomes the focus. Faith and forgiveness are inseparable and dynamically congruent. When prayer to God and forgiveness to others and ourselves are offered and given faith is the fruit. Forgiveness is the catalyst for faith in God when forgiveness is needed in the praying person. The mountain of loss, hurt and anger are cast into the sea of healing by the prayer of forgiveness-faith. Loss will come in life. Hurt will come in life. Anger will come at times but does not have to be acted out as sin when forgiveness is chosen. The prayer of forgiveness-faith in the faithful God of faith and forgiveness will bring the victory through the Supreme Forgiver - Jesus Christ. Those who pray to God with loss, hurt and anger simply ask the Holy Spirit to help them focus on the Supreme Forgiver and pray the prayer of forgiveness-faith. The prayer can simply be, "Father of all forgiveness and faith, I come to you through your Son who hung on the cross and cried, 'Father forgive them for they know not what they do,' and now I forgive and pray in faith, believing that my prayer will be heard and answered. I ask forgiveness for the anger that I have allowed myself to be captured in, I forgive that person who caused loss and hurt in my life and I thank you for the forgiving spirit that you have given me to forgive the loss and hurt that I have experienced. Now, O Mighty God of faithfulness and forgiveness, this mountain is removed and cast into the sea of healing grace." AMEN! AMEN! and AMEN!
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
WIN THE LOST - SEL, EE, SE, TE - HOLY GHOST REVIVAL
There are several types of evangelistic tools or systematic ways for reaching and winning the lost. Over the years these tools have been offered by leaders in church organizations. As a Christian and minister, I have been to the training sessions for SEL, EE, SE, TE and others. The thrust of most of these training sessions has been to train and motivate ministers, lay-leaders and members to witness to people who need Christ as Savior and Lord. These are basically good tools but are not most important for being motivated to witness to the lost - yes, love them, pray for them, care for them, share with them in their struggles and feelings and be there for them over the long-haul until they become strong enough to be witnesses for Christ too. There is another vital part of being a witnessing disciple of Christ, but first here are explanations and links to some of the evangelistic tools - especially for personal evangelism.
One of the evangelistic tools involved doing a list of planned items. A little booklet was given in a training session that listed these items for winning someone to Christ. These items were: find someone or think of someone, pray for them daily, connect with them, fellowship with them by having coffee or a meal together once a week and do something special for them weekly - in short be a friend to them. The steps were to be repeated unlimited times until the person was open to make a decision for Christ and eventually become strong enough as a Christian to reach others with the same plan and continue as a friend to them indefinitely but hopefully, eventually to see them be born again. This was offered to a group of ministers by a former TN State Bishop, Eugene Weakley, of the Church of God of Prophecy in the late 1990s, the best I remember. This was known as Team Evangelism or TE. This was a type of friendship evangelism and offered some very helpful tools for witnessing by being a friend to the person.
A decade or so before the TE training in the district where I was a minister, we met several weeknights over a period of weeks to be trained and honed in the skills of meeting someone and becoming effective in witnessing to them. At some point, after connecting with them and starting a friendly open-ended conversation, a pointed question was asked. "Have you come to the place in your life to know that if you die today you would go to heaven?" Then, provided the person is willing to respond and how they respond, the next question would be, "If you did die today and stand before God and He asked you why should I let you into my heaven, what would you answer?" Depending on their answer, the follow-up question would respond one way or the other to their need for repentance and being born again, hoping to lead them in prayer for salvation if they are open to receiving Christ as Savior and Lord. Or, continuing to answer their questions to help them make a future decision. This program was called Sharing Eternal Life or SEL. Training manuals were prepared and used but as far as I know there is no web site for SEL. I still have the materials.
Back around the middle (2004-2005) of the last decade there was training offered in another evangelistic program in our TN district. Training was offered one night a week for several weeks. We watched a video about going to businesses, agencies and homes to do something for them without expecting or receiving any remuneration - materially or verbally. My wife and I served by going to a laundromat and gave quarters to people who came in for washing and drying their clothes. The thrust of the program was to do something for people and simply say, "We are doing this to show the love of Christ." This was done with hopes of leading them toward Christ as Savior and Lord. This was known as Servant Evangelism or SE. This is a good way to meet business people in the community. offering to clean their bathroom, sweep their floor or do other chores as a show of love to them.
One of the first, if not the first, training programs that I was involved in included more extensive training than the preceding programs. There was an elaborately written book (that I still have) that included the way to approach a person. The program encouraged going out by two or three and have one to speak and the other(s) to pray silently. This program included more information to learn and took some practice to be able to be the speaker. The progress of the evangelistic presentation led to a time of opening to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. This program was known as Evangelism Explosion or EE.
I have not shared these training programs to share my expertise or experience. As I have confessed over the past couple years, "I cannot remember the last time I personally led someone to salvation by witnessing to them." Yes, I have witnessed but haven't prayed with someone for salvation personally in too many months - even years. I have prayed with people but have not prayed with them for salvation - or at least to hear their testimony of being saved. God help me to continue witnessing in your power and love to make much of Jesus.
All of the above programs are for the purpose of helping to win the lost to Christ. Each one of the programs have some good points. In fact, using the positive points of each program could help in reaching and winning the lost to Christ. Many people have been won to Christ with these tools. I believe the Holy Spirit has used these tools in winning people to Christ. Yet, much of the emphasis in these evangelistic tools is on giving something to the person, doing something with or for the person and/or techniques and steps on how to witness and what to say to people who need Christ as Savior and Lord. These tools and steps are beneficial but can become rote or mechanical without prayerfully seeking the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit.
There is great need for Holy Spirit power in being a witnessing disciple of Christ. Further, there is need of moving from compartmentalizing Christian witness and being a witnessing disciple of Christ 24/7. We come to church to worship openly and publicly. As disciples of Christ our daily lives are acts and actions of worship moment by moment. This requires being sensitive to the Holy Spirit since He wants to glorify Christ in our lives everywhere and anywhere we are and being a witnessing disciple of Christ every moment of the day ready to share our personal testimony and lead them in prayer for salvation. Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit through prayer and being intentional and alert to what the Holy Spirit is doing in people's hearts and lives is vital for being a witness for Christ.
The Holy Spirit desires to use Christ's disciples as powerful witnesses for Him. The Holy Spirit wants to glorify Christ in our lives. Each day the disciple of Christ should pray for opportunities to share Christ with others and remain alert to His leading and prompting. The Holy Spirit has been given for power to witness. As a disciple of Christ lives day by day, whether at work, school, at home or at the gas station, grocery store, neighbor next door - where ever and whoever we meet there is a golden opportunity to share our personal testimony for Christ and lead them to Him. It was said of Dwight Moody that he would not end a day without sharing his testimony and the gospel of Christ with someone. He preached many revivals but also witnessed daily to anyone and everyone who would hear him. The fire of the Holy Spirit was burning inside and he fanned the flame to burn brighter and brighter day by day as he intentionally surrendered to the power of God to be a powerful witness for Christ.
Is the Holy Ghost burning in your heart to be a live-wire witness to someone of the awesome salvation that Christ brought to you? Be alert! Be ready! The Holy Spirit is preparing hearts and lives for you to witness to and minister to. People will feel the red-hot flame of the Holy Spirit burning in your heart. Jesus said, after the Holy Ghost comes upon you ye shall be witnesses. Burn, fire of God, burn to tell others the message of Jesus Christ - Savior, Lord and King of Kings. God valued lost souls so much to give His only begotten Son to die on a cruel cross. Help me to have the burden for lost souls until I can't rest until they are born into the kingdom of God. To Him be glory for ever and ever!
Back around the middle (2004-2005) of the last decade there was training offered in another evangelistic program in our TN district. Training was offered one night a week for several weeks. We watched a video about going to businesses, agencies and homes to do something for them without expecting or receiving any remuneration - materially or verbally. My wife and I served by going to a laundromat and gave quarters to people who came in for washing and drying their clothes. The thrust of the program was to do something for people and simply say, "We are doing this to show the love of Christ." This was done with hopes of leading them toward Christ as Savior and Lord. This was known as Servant Evangelism or SE. This is a good way to meet business people in the community. offering to clean their bathroom, sweep their floor or do other chores as a show of love to them.
One of the first, if not the first, training programs that I was involved in included more extensive training than the preceding programs. There was an elaborately written book (that I still have) that included the way to approach a person. The program encouraged going out by two or three and have one to speak and the other(s) to pray silently. This program included more information to learn and took some practice to be able to be the speaker. The progress of the evangelistic presentation led to a time of opening to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. This program was known as Evangelism Explosion or EE.
I have not shared these training programs to share my expertise or experience. As I have confessed over the past couple years, "I cannot remember the last time I personally led someone to salvation by witnessing to them." Yes, I have witnessed but haven't prayed with someone for salvation personally in too many months - even years. I have prayed with people but have not prayed with them for salvation - or at least to hear their testimony of being saved. God help me to continue witnessing in your power and love to make much of Jesus.
All of the above programs are for the purpose of helping to win the lost to Christ. Each one of the programs have some good points. In fact, using the positive points of each program could help in reaching and winning the lost to Christ. Many people have been won to Christ with these tools. I believe the Holy Spirit has used these tools in winning people to Christ. Yet, much of the emphasis in these evangelistic tools is on giving something to the person, doing something with or for the person and/or techniques and steps on how to witness and what to say to people who need Christ as Savior and Lord. These tools and steps are beneficial but can become rote or mechanical without prayerfully seeking the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit.
There is great need for Holy Spirit power in being a witnessing disciple of Christ. Further, there is need of moving from compartmentalizing Christian witness and being a witnessing disciple of Christ 24/7. We come to church to worship openly and publicly. As disciples of Christ our daily lives are acts and actions of worship moment by moment. This requires being sensitive to the Holy Spirit since He wants to glorify Christ in our lives everywhere and anywhere we are and being a witnessing disciple of Christ every moment of the day ready to share our personal testimony and lead them in prayer for salvation. Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit through prayer and being intentional and alert to what the Holy Spirit is doing in people's hearts and lives is vital for being a witness for Christ.
The Holy Spirit desires to use Christ's disciples as powerful witnesses for Him. The Holy Spirit wants to glorify Christ in our lives. Each day the disciple of Christ should pray for opportunities to share Christ with others and remain alert to His leading and prompting. The Holy Spirit has been given for power to witness. As a disciple of Christ lives day by day, whether at work, school, at home or at the gas station, grocery store, neighbor next door - where ever and whoever we meet there is a golden opportunity to share our personal testimony for Christ and lead them to Him. It was said of Dwight Moody that he would not end a day without sharing his testimony and the gospel of Christ with someone. He preached many revivals but also witnessed daily to anyone and everyone who would hear him. The fire of the Holy Spirit was burning inside and he fanned the flame to burn brighter and brighter day by day as he intentionally surrendered to the power of God to be a powerful witness for Christ.
Is the Holy Ghost burning in your heart to be a live-wire witness to someone of the awesome salvation that Christ brought to you? Be alert! Be ready! The Holy Spirit is preparing hearts and lives for you to witness to and minister to. People will feel the red-hot flame of the Holy Spirit burning in your heart. Jesus said, after the Holy Ghost comes upon you ye shall be witnesses. Burn, fire of God, burn to tell others the message of Jesus Christ - Savior, Lord and King of Kings. God valued lost souls so much to give His only begotten Son to die on a cruel cross. Help me to have the burden for lost souls until I can't rest until they are born into the kingdom of God. To Him be glory for ever and ever!
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman - The Tragedy
Can an "old-timer" chime in about this Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman tragedy? At 63, I suppose I qualify as senior even if I still feel young at heart and continue to learn. There are older folks that likely have more wisdom than I but surely we can all agree that it is a tragedy. I call it a tragedy because that is what it is. It is a tragedy for the Martin family, for the Zimmerman family and for the United States. It is a tragedy for the Martin family of a son shot and killed. It is the tragedy of threats and being in hiding for Zimmerman and his family after he has been found not guilty by a trial and jury. It is a tragedy about divisiveness, ignorance, control and bitterness for the United States. It is a tragedy that the devil is using to divide people in this nation over racism. Forbear with me if you will and let me share some personal historical examples.
Let me begin with a little history of my boyhood days. The following may sound distant, unrelated and unreal to those under age 40 or who grew up without the racial overtones. I grew up hearing the N word frequently and a lot of negative stories about black people. There were people in my family (sadly, still are) that used the N word with an extreme negative connotation. There were off-colored (no pun intended) jokes and a general feeling of contempt for ALL blacks as being lazy and ignorant. Of course that is not true. That is not true of any race or ethnic group. Certainly God knows more about ethnic groups in the world than any human and there are hundreds of races and thousands of ethnic groups - some that the Western world may not know about. His Son died for all of them.
Even though the younger generation often uses the N word in a friendly manner towards each other, to this day, when I hear the N word I cringe because of the history of my boyhood days. There were two elements, however, that kept me from being swallowed up in that negative N word divisive cultured atmosphere, the Bible and a church that taught the truth about races and ethnicity. Sadly not every town and city where our local churches are/were in our denomination practice(d) it. More about that later.
My Junior year of high school (1966) was the first year that black students were integrated into our school. There was only one student - the son of one of the teachers at the African American school (Hampton School) in our county. I was anxious for this student because I felt he was being unduly used to test the relational atmosphere of the white students for accepting a darker skinned student. However, things went well, as far as I could tell, and there were no incidents or negative things said or done to this student. The next year more black students came and, as far as I know, there was no racial tension and the relational atmosphere of the school was good. Little did I realize that twenty-something years later I would face a different response to race than the peaceful integration of our high school.
Let me share this example that occurred at a church I served as pastor in the mid-late 1980s. I am not going to name the church or location since I don't want to add an opportunity for more ignorance, control issues and bitterness to surface. Some of those who are continuing to cry racism in the Martin/Zimmerman tragedy are showing their ignorance, control issues and bitterness. Sending Zimmerman to the death table will not appease some or silence their racist rhetoric. I honestly thought Zimmerman would get a guilty charge and some type of sentence but I accept and agree with the jury as a US citizen. I digress. My prayer is, "Dear Lord, save our nation from this divisive junk of the devil." On with the example.
I was friends with a black evangelist (we are still friends) and felt led of the Lord and wanted to schedule him for revival. The church and county was predominately white, in fact I did not see a dark-skinned person in the county the whole time I was there. We scheduled the revival and the evangelist and his family came to stay with us in our rented house. One day, I was in a local grocery store and one of the people who was an owner of the business said, "Preacher you better be careful, that house you are living in may get burned down with that black family in it." This came as a shock to me even though I had heard some passing remarks about blacks not being welcomed in the county. I remarked, "We are in revival at our church and he (the black evangelist) is doing some good preaching and you are welcome to come." He just looked at me. I left at that point thanking them for serving me. Anyway, the revival continued. The people at the church stated it was one of the best that the church ever had. Our rented house did not get burned down. God blessed greatly and lives were transformed by God's grace. Now another twenty-something years has passed since that time.
Where are we today in the United States in regards to racism and the Martin/Zimmerman tragedy? In my opinion, we are dealing with the divisive ways and lifestyles of those who continue in ignorance, and are used by controlling spirits and bitterness. There are those who are truly ignorant and join in with the racist overtones, the racist marches and the racist riots that destroy property and human lives. There are those who use the Martin/Zimmerman tragedy to thrust their control issues on a nation led by politically charged leaders that bring further division to a society that needs unity of purpose for accepting all races as creations of God to be respected and held in esteem as persons. There are those who are so full of bitterness that every word spews out of their poisoned attitude with contempt and hate for those in any ethnic group but theirs. Their attitudes, actions and speeches create a dangerous atmosphere of division that often leads to destructive rioting. The media shows people roaming the streets all in the name of supporting Trayvon but what about the people who become violent and destructive? Is that supporting any just cause?
One black pastor described the negative attitudes, actions and activities of some as only seeing through black eyes. He could have as easily or rightly have said some are seeing only through their white eyes or whatever race they are. What would happen if some of those who are captured in ignorance, control issues and bitterness would follow the example of some of the new generation that uses the N word for endearment? What would happen if their focus was the unity and purpose of a nation that desperately needs God and His righteousness? Yes the Martin/Zimmerman tragedy is real and it seems that it is leading to a travesty - a travesty for many in a nation who lose their common sense and join the emotionally charged actions of the ignorant, controlling and bitter. We must seek God, rise above the racist attitudes, actions and activities and be what God has created us to be - ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
Let me begin with a little history of my boyhood days. The following may sound distant, unrelated and unreal to those under age 40 or who grew up without the racial overtones. I grew up hearing the N word frequently and a lot of negative stories about black people. There were people in my family (sadly, still are) that used the N word with an extreme negative connotation. There were off-colored (no pun intended) jokes and a general feeling of contempt for ALL blacks as being lazy and ignorant. Of course that is not true. That is not true of any race or ethnic group. Certainly God knows more about ethnic groups in the world than any human and there are hundreds of races and thousands of ethnic groups - some that the Western world may not know about. His Son died for all of them.
Even though the younger generation often uses the N word in a friendly manner towards each other, to this day, when I hear the N word I cringe because of the history of my boyhood days. There were two elements, however, that kept me from being swallowed up in that negative N word divisive cultured atmosphere, the Bible and a church that taught the truth about races and ethnicity. Sadly not every town and city where our local churches are/were in our denomination practice(d) it. More about that later.
My Junior year of high school (1966) was the first year that black students were integrated into our school. There was only one student - the son of one of the teachers at the African American school (Hampton School) in our county. I was anxious for this student because I felt he was being unduly used to test the relational atmosphere of the white students for accepting a darker skinned student. However, things went well, as far as I could tell, and there were no incidents or negative things said or done to this student. The next year more black students came and, as far as I know, there was no racial tension and the relational atmosphere of the school was good. Little did I realize that twenty-something years later I would face a different response to race than the peaceful integration of our high school.
Let me share this example that occurred at a church I served as pastor in the mid-late 1980s. I am not going to name the church or location since I don't want to add an opportunity for more ignorance, control issues and bitterness to surface. Some of those who are continuing to cry racism in the Martin/Zimmerman tragedy are showing their ignorance, control issues and bitterness. Sending Zimmerman to the death table will not appease some or silence their racist rhetoric. I honestly thought Zimmerman would get a guilty charge and some type of sentence but I accept and agree with the jury as a US citizen. I digress. My prayer is, "Dear Lord, save our nation from this divisive junk of the devil." On with the example.
I was friends with a black evangelist (we are still friends) and felt led of the Lord and wanted to schedule him for revival. The church and county was predominately white, in fact I did not see a dark-skinned person in the county the whole time I was there. We scheduled the revival and the evangelist and his family came to stay with us in our rented house. One day, I was in a local grocery store and one of the people who was an owner of the business said, "Preacher you better be careful, that house you are living in may get burned down with that black family in it." This came as a shock to me even though I had heard some passing remarks about blacks not being welcomed in the county. I remarked, "We are in revival at our church and he (the black evangelist) is doing some good preaching and you are welcome to come." He just looked at me. I left at that point thanking them for serving me. Anyway, the revival continued. The people at the church stated it was one of the best that the church ever had. Our rented house did not get burned down. God blessed greatly and lives were transformed by God's grace. Now another twenty-something years has passed since that time.
Where are we today in the United States in regards to racism and the Martin/Zimmerman tragedy? In my opinion, we are dealing with the divisive ways and lifestyles of those who continue in ignorance, and are used by controlling spirits and bitterness. There are those who are truly ignorant and join in with the racist overtones, the racist marches and the racist riots that destroy property and human lives. There are those who use the Martin/Zimmerman tragedy to thrust their control issues on a nation led by politically charged leaders that bring further division to a society that needs unity of purpose for accepting all races as creations of God to be respected and held in esteem as persons. There are those who are so full of bitterness that every word spews out of their poisoned attitude with contempt and hate for those in any ethnic group but theirs. Their attitudes, actions and speeches create a dangerous atmosphere of division that often leads to destructive rioting. The media shows people roaming the streets all in the name of supporting Trayvon but what about the people who become violent and destructive? Is that supporting any just cause?
One black pastor described the negative attitudes, actions and activities of some as only seeing through black eyes. He could have as easily or rightly have said some are seeing only through their white eyes or whatever race they are. What would happen if some of those who are captured in ignorance, control issues and bitterness would follow the example of some of the new generation that uses the N word for endearment? What would happen if their focus was the unity and purpose of a nation that desperately needs God and His righteousness? Yes the Martin/Zimmerman tragedy is real and it seems that it is leading to a travesty - a travesty for many in a nation who lose their common sense and join the emotionally charged actions of the ignorant, controlling and bitter. We must seek God, rise above the racist attitudes, actions and activities and be what God has created us to be - ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
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