Today is my 13th Wedding Anniversary! It's been a great 13 years! There are certain gifts that God gives each of us every day of our lives that we just tend to ignore. For example: good health; a place to live; clothes to wear and food to eat; good friendships. Beyond a doubt the three greatest gifts He's ever given us is His Son, marriage, and family. It's amazing how we just tend to ignore those gifts, especially in the difficult times of our lives. Without just boring you to death, other than my salvation, my wife is a gift from God to me that I always want to treasure and NEVER want to ignore. I honestly feel the favor of God on my life every time I look at her. She's not only everything I ever needed - she's everything that God needed for me! I mean that! She's breath-taking beautiful - a wonderful mother - a great ministry partner - and my best friend. Sure marriage is work, but when God is the center of it - He even makes the work a little fun! I can honestly say our marriage is better than its ever been. That is not a cliche' for me - that is truth!
So to those of you who are struggling in your marriage - be encouraged! God designed marriage - just follow His blueprints, which by the way, are found in His Word. Pray together - play together - fight battles together - STAY TOGETHER! We've done all that and more and it just keeps gettin' better!
Whoever said 13 was an unlucky number didn't know what they were talking about! 13 has been great for me! All I can say is, "Bring On 13 More!"
Love You Baby! So Glad God Gave Me YOU!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
4th Grader & S - E - X ???!!!
Hey friends. Today my heart is broken because I had to have a talk with my 10 year old son - my firstborn - who is only in 4th grade about sex. It breaks my heart! I didn't want to have that talk with him - shouldn't be talking about this at such a young age. The only thing we should be talking about is sports, homework, God, and when are we going to throw the ball together. Yet, my son kept coming home from school asking questions about sexual matters because of what he was hearing other 4th graders tell him at school. How sad is that?! This is what has become of our society! I had to have a talk with him because I wanted him to hear it from his dad - not some kid at school that's being raised by ungodly parents. I wanted him to have a Godly perspective and understanding from the Word of God - not the word of ungodly people. It just breaks my heart for these children who are being raised in such dysfunctional environments. It breaks my heart for my own children - sin is just to easily accessible. My friends - family - my fellow warriors... We have a battle to fight! There is a war that is being raged against the very standards and principals this nation was based on. Let's us pray more than ever - let us stand for what is right - let us stop setting in our seats Sunday after Sunday and make little effort to take Jesus to our community. In some ways its our fault. We haven't done enough! In a world and society that is so blind let us be the light of the world. Let us take the TRUTH to those who need it with the heart and compassion of Christ!
Love You Much! May You & Your Children Be Blessed Today!
Me
Love You Much! May You & Your Children Be Blessed Today!
Me
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Reformation of Holiness
I want to start this blog by saying this is a serious message and I pray that you will seek God over what I'm about to share with you. I pray that you know that what I'm sharing is from a heart that loves God and His people.
I felt the need to write down what the Holy Spirit has been dealing with me about so strongly today. I wanted to write this down so that I would not forget and hold myself accountable to those I minister too as well to share with you my spiritual mandate and calling as a minister of the Word. I just finished reading a prophetic warning by Pastor David Wilkerson. I had the awesome privilege of working for him in New York City for almost two years. He warned of major catastrophes coming soon through out America. I urge you to read his blog. I also watched some old video clips of Pastor Leonard Ravenhill as he spoke truth concerning the church.
For years pastors have preached on the need for revival in America. I have been one of those pastors. There has been an ever increasing number of ministers who preach constantly on prosperity. There have been times in my ministry I have felt the pressure to preach it as well because that's what people want to hear. That builds churches - that meets a 'need'. I'm not advocating that prosperity is wrong or sinful or that it should never be preached. I am saying, however, that those who preach prosperity only should also preach holiness, repentance, the return of Christ, and salvation. I am saying to Christians that there are more important things to God other than your materialistic belongings. I just don't understand constant preaching on something that really won't matter when we stand before God in judgement.
I have had to repent to God and to you. I want to first start by saying that I believe pastors who preach on revival are not bad men. Their hearts are right - the message is wrong. For something to be revived means to do something that was done in the past. I believe God wants to build His church - not on the past - not on past movements - but upon His Word and what He desires to do now. We don't need something from the past - we need what He wants now. Secondly, I believe God does want to prosper His people and His church - but He didn't send His Son to die on the cross just so that we'll be rich. I'm preaching on the Church of Laodicea - the church that makes God sick. He said He would "vomit" that church out. That church was a financially prosperous church. In the words of Leonard Ravenhill, "If prosperity is so important to God then why didn't He look at the church at Laodicea with great approval?" They had money but lacked Holy Spirit Power. We should be more concerned about our spiritual prosperity then we are our checkbooks.
To sum up my mandate and conviction I believe the Church in America needs a spiritual reformation of holiness. We must reform the church's message in these last days. The Word says, "Without holiness no man can see the Lord." I pray that God does bless your finances. I pray that you live your life in the blessings of God, but I pray most that you discover who He is. I pray that He'll be enough! I pray that He becomes our Reward! I believe if we really knew Him - if we spent time on our knees - if we repented for sin - we would change our city in just months! We need altars that are packed with people crying out to God for their nation - repenting and interceding for those that are lost. We need pastors who are not afraid to preach the truth. Even if it's not what the 'itching ears' want to hear. I believe God sent me to NYC to work with Pastor Wilkerson and set me under his anointed preaching because I am called to be an alarmist also to this nation and to the church. I know my preaching won't always be popular. I know that may not draw large crowds and shouts of praise, but I also know that when I stand before God - He will look at me and say, "Well done thy good and faithful servant." and that, my friends, is enough for me.
Love you much and I encourage you to pray more than you ever have before. Live for God. Be holy as He is holy - in all your conduct. Join with me as God uses us to bring a 'Reformation of Holiness' back to His church.
God Bless,
Me
I felt the need to write down what the Holy Spirit has been dealing with me about so strongly today. I wanted to write this down so that I would not forget and hold myself accountable to those I minister too as well to share with you my spiritual mandate and calling as a minister of the Word. I just finished reading a prophetic warning by Pastor David Wilkerson. I had the awesome privilege of working for him in New York City for almost two years. He warned of major catastrophes coming soon through out America. I urge you to read his blog. I also watched some old video clips of Pastor Leonard Ravenhill as he spoke truth concerning the church.
For years pastors have preached on the need for revival in America. I have been one of those pastors. There has been an ever increasing number of ministers who preach constantly on prosperity. There have been times in my ministry I have felt the pressure to preach it as well because that's what people want to hear. That builds churches - that meets a 'need'. I'm not advocating that prosperity is wrong or sinful or that it should never be preached. I am saying, however, that those who preach prosperity only should also preach holiness, repentance, the return of Christ, and salvation. I am saying to Christians that there are more important things to God other than your materialistic belongings. I just don't understand constant preaching on something that really won't matter when we stand before God in judgement.
I have had to repent to God and to you. I want to first start by saying that I believe pastors who preach on revival are not bad men. Their hearts are right - the message is wrong. For something to be revived means to do something that was done in the past. I believe God wants to build His church - not on the past - not on past movements - but upon His Word and what He desires to do now. We don't need something from the past - we need what He wants now. Secondly, I believe God does want to prosper His people and His church - but He didn't send His Son to die on the cross just so that we'll be rich. I'm preaching on the Church of Laodicea - the church that makes God sick. He said He would "vomit" that church out. That church was a financially prosperous church. In the words of Leonard Ravenhill, "If prosperity is so important to God then why didn't He look at the church at Laodicea with great approval?" They had money but lacked Holy Spirit Power. We should be more concerned about our spiritual prosperity then we are our checkbooks.
To sum up my mandate and conviction I believe the Church in America needs a spiritual reformation of holiness. We must reform the church's message in these last days. The Word says, "Without holiness no man can see the Lord." I pray that God does bless your finances. I pray that you live your life in the blessings of God, but I pray most that you discover who He is. I pray that He'll be enough! I pray that He becomes our Reward! I believe if we really knew Him - if we spent time on our knees - if we repented for sin - we would change our city in just months! We need altars that are packed with people crying out to God for their nation - repenting and interceding for those that are lost. We need pastors who are not afraid to preach the truth. Even if it's not what the 'itching ears' want to hear. I believe God sent me to NYC to work with Pastor Wilkerson and set me under his anointed preaching because I am called to be an alarmist also to this nation and to the church. I know my preaching won't always be popular. I know that may not draw large crowds and shouts of praise, but I also know that when I stand before God - He will look at me and say, "Well done thy good and faithful servant." and that, my friends, is enough for me.
Love you much and I encourage you to pray more than you ever have before. Live for God. Be holy as He is holy - in all your conduct. Join with me as God uses us to bring a 'Reformation of Holiness' back to His church.
God Bless,
Me
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Coonhunters for Christ!
What's up bloggers - all two of you! haha!
Yeah so I'm driving in downtown Dyersburg and there's this pick-up truck in front of me with a cage in the bed of the truck. On this cage was a sticker that said, you guessed it...Coonhunters for Christ. I started laughing and thought to myself that the South truly has a culture of its own. Which really got me thinking about if we as a church, speaking of the body of Christ, are we really relevant? I mean I have to admit I thought that was a little dorky and just a bit too much. I was thinking that the church will truly do anything to get people in church. I mean I would've never thought of Coonhunters for Christ! But then again, we do have a lot of hunters down here and they need Jesus as much as anyone else. So maybe the coonhunters are more relevant than most churches. I mean we do all of our 'religious' things that just don't seem to be touching lost humanity. Maybe we need to get to where they are and meet their needs - even if it's in the middle of the Southern fields or Southern woods! So I say... Go Coonhunters for Christ! While you're killing some coons why not win a soul while you're at it! (Ha! Ha! It's still funny!)
Later - Peace & Love,
Stoner
Yeah so I'm driving in downtown Dyersburg and there's this pick-up truck in front of me with a cage in the bed of the truck. On this cage was a sticker that said, you guessed it...Coonhunters for Christ. I started laughing and thought to myself that the South truly has a culture of its own. Which really got me thinking about if we as a church, speaking of the body of Christ, are we really relevant? I mean I have to admit I thought that was a little dorky and just a bit too much. I was thinking that the church will truly do anything to get people in church. I mean I would've never thought of Coonhunters for Christ! But then again, we do have a lot of hunters down here and they need Jesus as much as anyone else. So maybe the coonhunters are more relevant than most churches. I mean we do all of our 'religious' things that just don't seem to be touching lost humanity. Maybe we need to get to where they are and meet their needs - even if it's in the middle of the Southern fields or Southern woods! So I say... Go Coonhunters for Christ! While you're killing some coons why not win a soul while you're at it! (Ha! Ha! It's still funny!)
Later - Peace & Love,
Stoner
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