Sunday Morning Thoughts

This Sunday was AWESOME. I have never preached so hard against sin yet have so many respond with overwhelming appreciation and graditude. Thanks for being an awesome Church. In a day when most are walking away from preaching hard and against sin our church welcomes the truth. And, after service we had a financial meeting and thanks for allowing me to be brutally honest with everything. We are moving forward! God Bless.

Sometimes the most positive is negative...

Ok so I am on a kick right now because God is rocking my world about stop playing. One of the best blogs out there is Heather McCullough. Partly because of what she says and partly because I know her life and how she is forever striving to be better. Yesterday she posted about speaking positive. Now if you have followed my ministry for more than a couple of weeks you know that I am BIG on the power of your words. I am not great at it but I understand it. Tonight I was listening to Jesse Duplantis. This guy is hilarious. Tyra and I purchased the "Laughter doeth good like a medicine" DVD's. These are honestly the funniest videos I have ever heard and the stories are all true. He told a story of during a revival a lady invited him to her house for Gumbo. Now you must understand that Jesse is from New Orleans and they know how to cook gumbo. When he got there her husband (who was NOT saved) and children were there. She put the gumbo in front of Jesse and he said he could tell it wasn't going to be good. He thought I will just get through this and if she asks me I will tell her it's good. It's just a little white lie. God said, "No lie is white. Tell the truth." He said, "That's easy for you to say you are up there and I am down here." When he tasted it, it was AWFUL (you have to hear him tell this). He noticed the children and the husband was just watching him and not eating. She asked him, "So how is it?"
Everything in him said lie. But God said, "you better not lie." Now most of us in this situation would lie and ask for forgiveness later. But Jesse is going to obey God. He said, "Ma'am this is trash. It's awful!" The husband threw down his spoon before taking a bite and said, "I know you are a man of God. We have had so many preachers come through here and eat this stuff and all of them have lied." Two weeks later the man got saved. Sometimes the most positive thing you can say is negative. We must understand that people can not and will not grow without Truth being spoken to them. The Bible says, "The Truth shall set you free." (John 8:32) You don't have to be rude...but the truth will set someone free. Preachers need to heed this! God told me Sunday and I will say it again here..."You have a lot of people coming to church, but I don't know many of them." Pray for me for Sunday...God is laying probably the most important message on my heart since we started this church. Remember the 5th Sunday quarterly meeting right after church...again some of the most important information will be given out! See you then!! I am excited about this walk with God.

Is Jesus Coming?

I don't know about you but I have been watching the news lately. With all that is going on with Israel we all would be wise to brush up on our current events. (remember those in school?) I have really shunned away from talking about the coming of the Lord. The main reason is so many have preached about it only to die in the faith. Now I read in Hebrews 11 that Abraham died never seeing the promise...yet it didn't stop him from talking about it. In my fellowship group this morning we started talking about the coming of the Lord. One pastor shared with us that never in history has this many pieces of the prophetic coming of the Lord been in place. In fact, a prophecy preacher I follow a lot (Perry Stone) has stated for years that everything is seemingly in place. I have heard the Lord say everyday this week the word REPENT! While talking to another pastor at lunch he said, "Have you ever wondered why Jesus preached more about the kingdom than salvation?" I have never thought about that. God is about the KINGDOM of God. One of the signs of the end times concerns the church. 2 Tim. 4:1-5 teaches that in the end the church will seek out preachers that will preach good things and happy things and not sound doctrine. Sound doctrine doesn't have to be doom and gloom but it should be honest and complete. God is calling the church to repentance...I hear it loud and clear. He is calling the church to quit playing church...I have questioned so many times why is it that we have so many people going to church yet never having a fulfilled life? SIN...that's the only answer I can come up with...somewhere in their life there is sin. Now sin isn't always the gross nasty sin we think of ....the Bible says sin is knowing to do right and not doing it. My prayer today and for always is God search my heart...bring to light areas in my life that are not pleasing to you. Pray that prayer today...and watch God radically transform your life. Jesus is COMING!

Lost Blog

Ok so I tried to blog three times already and all three times the blog was 'lost.' I have no idea what is going on except to say that apparently what I was blogging would better be served by speaking it instead of typing it. So come tonight to hear what I have to say! See ya then!

This whole Mid-East thing

I have to admit...after 12 years of school, 4 years of college, and 2 years of graduate school...this whole middle east stuff still gives me a headache. I don't understand a lot of it. So, I came across this link that helps explain what all these countries have against each other. I hope you like it...it's interactive for the slower learners like me LOL!
Middle East Buddy List

Drive Game

Yes it was AWESOME! Friday night Tyra and I went to the Greenville Drive Game! Russell Hopkins invited us to sit in the box seat of his company! It was so awesome!(I think I've said that before BUT IT WAS AWESOME) We had great seats, air conditioning, and FOOD! The picture is me with Reedy Rip'it the Drive Mascot. The Drive lost but the fireworks show made up for the loss in my book. Thanks Russell, April and Jayden for inviting us!

Crazy Blog Monday

Have you ever gone to the store to get something only to come home and find out you forgot something? Ok so here is my story. I am riding down the road this morning eating my Chick-Fil-A biscuit. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw that I had some of it on the corner of my mouth. Instintively I licked it off when it happened. I noticed my tongue. Yes, I know...I have always had a tongue...I use it often. Sometimes too much if you ask Tyra. Back to the story. I thought, Man God is so awesome that he thought of everything. Before we were ever formed in the garden of Eden, God thought of EVERYTHING! A tongue of all things...but without it we could not talk, eat, TASTE (Yep that's true ladies not even chocolate), and even if this is gross, kiss. Man God is awesome. And then I thought if I were an evolutionist how would I get from amoeba at the bottom of an ocean to a human being with a tongue. What are the chances all that would come together without flaw? Man what were they thinking? I'm out! Love and Peace. By the way, Church was AWESOME yesterday. Thanks to everyone who prayed and also thanks for obeying God. I wish we could get back to the simple way of having church...not the, "hey sister myrtle do you have a song today?" But, the simple "going after God" kind. Hope that makes sense. Out

Man, where have you been?

Ever heard that? I have...a lot recently. And to answer that...well, I've been around. In fact, looking in the mirror I am getting more around each day. (I really need you to pray discipline in my life concerning my workout program) It has to be fun, I have to be able to do it from my recliner, and I can't sweat. Any suggestions? Ok, back to the reason I have been out of pocket. I don't really know. I am just in this spiritual, "I want to find the very middle of where God is" mode. So I am on this journey...not, I am the preacher and I know it all...it's more like, I am the preacher...where are we going? I am excited in times like this. Why? Because I know that God is moving me from where I am closer to where I am going. Can't wait till Sunday! It's going to ROCK...Wally is off this next week so I will be leading worship (God help us). Please LOL come expecting! Something...Anything...see you then.

He Everyone

Just wanted to drop a blog to let everyone know that I am still alive. We have had friends up from FL this weekend. We saw them off yesterday morning. The past couple of days have gone by like the wind. Can't wait till tonight...see you there!

Rev 12:11

Last night at CIOC we had a testimony service. I had called several people who, over the last couple of weeks, have shared with me about all that God is doing in their lives. I started the night talking about how, since Tyra and I lost our son, we have seen a whole new side of Christ. Shellee shared how God is taking her on a journey to find complete joy. Heather talked about God challenging her to go back to school. And, Christy Mitchell talked about how recent changes in her ministry has really witenessed to her parents in a new exciting way. God is up to something...can you feel it?

You have to watch this..

All speakers have said things they wish they could take back. If you are a CIOCer you will remember when I was trying to promote the men's ministry and said, "I have a passion for men." Well here is one that might take your mind off my slip up:



If you are a prun I will tell you now not to click the play button...but if you want a laugh (laughter does good like a medicine) click and watch!

You will love it.

So Today I am 38...

Yes that's right...today I turn 38...in just 2 short years I will be 40...and in...oh never mind. I am excited about this next year in my life. God is up to something! I thought on my special day I would leave you with a joke so here goes:
"A hamburger and fries," a man orders. "Me too," says the ostrich sitting beside him.
"That's $9.40," the waitress says. The man reaches into his pocket and hands her the exact change.
They return the next day. Both order a steak and potato, and again the man pays with the exact change.
"How do you do that?" the waitress asks.
"A genie granted me two wishes," explains the man. "My first was that I'd always have the right amount of money to pay for anything."
"Brilliant! But what's with the ostrich?"
"My second wish was for an exotic chick with long legs who agrees with everything I say."

Where does the time go?

I am amazed at how RIGHT my parents were when they told me, "The older you get the faster it goes." It seems as if yesterday I was in college and yet it seems like a life time ago. I have to just give God praise for all that He has done in my life. I mean who would have ever thought 20 years ago I would be doing what I am doing? For that matter, I would have never thought I would have already done all that I have. So many times the enemy gets us to look at our lives in negative retrospect. What I mean by this is he prides himself on being the accuser of the Christian. (Rev. 12:10) Not to brag but to simply give the devil a 'black eye' I want to list all the things that God has done in my life. Mind you, I didn't get serious about following God till I was 21.
1. Traveled and sang in a gospel group.
2. Received a certificate of accomplishment for finishing the Ministerial Internship Program.
3. Received a Bachelor Degree in Pastoral Ministry.
4. Received a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministry (Nobody would have ever thought that)
5. Preached in Israel...in fact in the upper room itself.
6. Preached in 8 states, and have ran over 200 revivals.
7. Traveled to Kenya East Africa 4 times and helped build a Beautiful Church (it's the last one on the right at the bottom) there through raising support here statside.
7 Seen over 1500 come to the Lord and over 2000 recieve the Holy Ghost.
8. Pioneered a church in 2004.


Ok that's no where near all that God has done in my life...but I am tired of typing right now...My point? It's easy to look at life and see all the things that you haven't done but more satisfaction comes when you look at all the things you have accomplished! Have a GREAT DAY!

Thoughts on a Wednesday

Wow the 4th is over...the 4th of July is like Wednesday for the summer...it's almost in the middle of the summer...that is until I opened the paper yesterday and a HUGE WalMart flyer fell out saying, "BACK TO SCHOOL!" Wow it's already close to that time. In a few weeks students will crank back up in school...I know it's hard to believe but it's true. Tyra and I take vacation in September...I like it...why? Because many have already had vacation and we still are looking forward to going! Tonight I will be talking again on Sowing and Reaping...and maybe, just maybe there will be more pictures. Take care! See ya tonight...and oh yeah...our Band will be in da house tonight all of them!

Happy 4th Everyone!

Happy Birthday America and Happy 4th to all. Today is going to be awesome with great weather and all. Tyra and I are going to hang around the house...I know, I know, sounds boring...but we really enjoy being home together. We will spend most of the day playing in the pool, reading (our new favorite hobby to do together), cooking out, and just hanging out with each other. We spend a lot of time together doing ministry but very little time just simply being together so today is IT! Have a GREAT 4th of July and I will see you tomorrow night!

Wow and Double Wow

Yesterday was Rockin'! We had a special service at CIOC to honor all veterans. Man can you say AWESOME! The whole Creative Ministries Department went totally out of the way to make sure all the vets felt appreciated and loved. From the beginning to the end it was amazing. I want to thank everyone for making that day possible. Thanks to the all the Creative Team...Pastors Wally and Julie Smith, David and Christy Ramey, Pastors Russell and April Hopkins, Johnny and Angela Thomas, Larry and Donna McAbee, Joshua Smith, Kim Holloway, Christy Mitchell, Melissa Nease, Brianne Nease, Haley Nease, Jesse Franks, and Shellee Faddy. If you had anything to do with this production and I am not aware of it PLEASE LET ME KNOW!! As Pastor I want to personally thank you. God Bless!!! Happy 4th!! Don't mis Wednesday night...it's going to ROCK!!