Professional Pentecostals...

Maybe it's just me, but sometimes when I look around the sanctuary during a service, I get the feeling that some of the people there are "Professional Pentecostals"!?! What I mean by this is that they have lost all of the true fire and motivation for worshipping and magnifying the King of Kings and they are simply going through the motions of what and who "they think" that God wants them to be rather than actually being who God wants them to be. They dress exactly how they think that God would want them to dress in their suites and ties, dresses and fancy shoes, but they don't REALLY do it to pay honor and tribute to the reverence that they have for their God, but rather, so that the people who happen to sit behind them in the pews can look at them and think, "Boy, they must be spiritual!" They are more concerned with personal recognition than having someone see God in them. They stand to their feet and mouth the words to the choruses as they are sung, never taking the time or the effort to let the words resonate within their minds and allow the expression of their meaning to take hold of them in such a way that it moves them to REAL tears. Worship service, to these people is congregational and not personal! Every week these people have some need for prayer and deliverance from certain doom or a disastrous calamity, as well as, a testimony as to what God has done in their life and the places that He has brought them out of in the past week. Now there is nothing wrong with bringing your needs before the Lord and asking for help or testifying of His goodness, but make sure that, that is what you are doing and not using this portion of the service as your own personal "look at me" session. When you start talking about how bad you have it and seeking sympathy, rather than acknowledging and uplifting Jesus in all things, then it is time for you to simply hold your peace. When the sermon is delivered, these "pros" have their "Amens" and "Hallelujahs" as well rehearsed and scripted as a Shakespearean Masterpiece! And finally, at alter call they "pour their heart out" to God and say that He has touched their life, but the moment that they leave the church and they are out of sight of the members of the congregation, a stranger would not be able to pick them out of a lineup or criminals, drunks, or maybe even strippers! So what were they delivered from? What chains were removed and exactly how were their eyes opened? That touch that they received was so superficial due to their own inability to let down their guard and become emotionally, physically, and spiritually engaged in the service from their place on the awards platform that it simply did not last! So, I would like to encourage you to maintain you "amateur" status! Don't get so caught up in the do's and don'ts that you loose your ability to freely and passionately worship your God with all that YOU are! If you are sincere and your praise comes from your heart then all of heaven will rejoice with you even if no one in the congregation will...

Are You Getting the Better End of the Deal?!?

When we look at our relationship with God and think of the paths that our lives have taken as a result of following Him, do you think that you are getting the better end of the deal? Are you thankful for what He has done for you, or do you feel as though you have had to give up too much or miss out? The thing that you and I miss never loose sight of is the fact that we are never giving God anything REALLY...What do I mean?!? I'll explain...
Any and everything that you and I do for His glory and to propagate His kingdom here on earth is rewarded! Now we may not have a treasure chest or money, or a new car, or even a roof over our head that we are able to call our own, but what we lack here in this minuscule existence that we call life, we gain for all of eternity in heaven.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 tells us For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
This passage was written by a man who had been beaten, thrown in jail, was homeless, was ridiculed and mocked, was thrown out of cities, who didn't have a penny to his name, and who was subjected to all forms of torment for simply preaching the gospel and trying to help people. So as you can see, you may not always be loved for doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord but we can expect this. The bible tells us in John 15:18-20 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Never loose sight of the fact that no matter what it costs you t follow Jesus, whether it be friends, family, money, jobs, possessions, etc., YOU ARE GETTING THE BETTER END OF THE DEAL!

Youth Launch 2008...

I just wanted to remind everyone about Youth Launch in Onterio this Saturday May 31st at 4:00 pm. We will be meeting at the church at 1:30 pm and leaving for Onterio at 2:00 pm. There is a cost of $10.00 for admission. See all of you there!

A Lesson in Humanity's Humility...

Have you ever noticed how we always look better to ourselves than we do to others? Why do we always think we are right for doing the same thing that we look down on someone else for doing? The bible clearly tells us that every man is right in his own eyes until his neighbor searches him out. In 2 Samuel 12 we see where David himself could not see his own sin, but was quick to hand out punishment to another.
2 Samuel 12 1-And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man...
You see, David had all that he could have asked for and he had been given and blessed tremendously, but that was not enough!
But David did something that very few of us do. When we have our faults pointed out by someone else, we usually respond by saying something like "who are you to judge me", "you're no better than I am", or "who do you think you are", but not David! He quickly realized that he was to blame and he had a problem, and he was wrong! He didn't try to rationalize what he had done or give an excuse. No David said "I have sinned against the Lord" in verse 13 and then Nathan reminded him of God's amazing grace and love by telling him, "The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.", and the reason he said this was because we see in Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
You see God wants us to do the right thing but when we fail Him, He doesn't fail us! In 1 John 1:9 we see, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
So the next time you go to point the finger at someone else's mistake, remember that there are 3 fingers pointing back at you and before you criticise another person for their shortcomings take a look in the mirror and ask yourself, "Am I were I need to be and am I doing all that I should be doing?" If not the acknowledge your failures, ask for forgiveness, and go forward into a bright new tomorrow...

Thought of the Week for May 4th thru 10th...

This thought has been on my mind for some time now and therefore I feel that maybe someone out there might benefit from hearing these words, "Temptation is not sin, it's a call to action!" So many times we feel as though we have failed or that we have in some way fallen short of the mark that has been set for us by feeling temptation, and that could not be further from the truth. It is one of the most potent lies of the devil to convenience us that we are somehow unworthy to even go to God with our problems due to the inconsequential act of being tempted when in all actuality, the only way for us to overcome the temptation and to be conquers, is through Christ Jesus. Never forget that God himself, Jesus was tempted! It is whether or not we give into the temptation that presents itself that determines whether or not we fail to meet God's expectations and not the act of being tempted. So do not feel guilty or depressed when you have temptation come your way, but rather rejoice in the fact that you no longer give in to the temptation (which is where true failure lies) but you now overcome it! When you feel tempted, you're not sinning, but it is a wake up call for you to get on your knees and pray for God to deliver you or for you to find yourself lost in the scriptures seeking God's will in His word.

"Fill the World" Sheaves for Christ contest...

Calling all young people, this contest will pit the guys versus the girls to see who can collect the most change. You will find coin receptacles in the sound booth of the church and we would like to ask that you get as much change collected from now until the end of the Sheaves for Christ campaign (September 7th) and place it in your respective container. The group with the most money collected will get a pizza party where the loosing group will have to cater to the winning group's every request (get them drinks, food, napkins, ice, chips, etc.)...Get your parent's, friends, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and anyone else that you can find to save you their loose change so that your group can be victorious! Do your best to support this cause and good luck to everyone!

Sheaves for Christ...

We have begun our 2008 Sheaves for Christ Campaign and our goal is to raise $10,000. This money is then fed back into the District Youth Department so that our young people have the resources to reach others, the materials to make an impact, and ability to achieve a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God. There will be many different ways by which and through which you will be able to make a difference. It has been said that the Youth of today are the church of tomorrow. If this is true, then won't you help to build a brighter tomorrow? If you feel compelled to give, then please give. We would like to encourage each and every one of our church members to get involved by giving your support, your time, your prayers, and your help...Will you join the story?