Thursday, February 26, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
This Sunday...
Ready of not here IT comes! This Sunday, February 22nd, we will reveal a 3-D rendering of the new facility! Spread the word... And don't miss this monumental occasion in the destiny of Higher Praise Church...
Saturday, February 14, 2009
When Love Comes to Town...
One of my favorite songs of all time:
I was a sailor, I was lost at sea, I was under the waves, Before love rescued me, I was a fighter, I could turn on a thread, Now I stand accused of the things I've said...
I used to make love under a red sunset, I was making promises I would soon forget, She was pale as the lace of her wedding gown, But I left her standing before love came to town...
I ran into a juke joint when I heard a guitar scream, The notes were turning blue, I was dazing in a dream, As the music played I saw my life turn around, That was the day before love came to town...
I was there when they crucified my Lord, I held the scabbard when the soldier drew his sword, I threw the dice when they pierced his side, But I've seen love conquer the great divide...
When love comes to town I'm gonna catch that train, When love comes to town I'm gonna catch that flame, Maybe I was wrong to ever let you down, But I did what I did before love came to town!
Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFd-g2oqBjc&feature=related
(Lyrics from "When Love Comes to Town" written by Bono)
I was a sailor, I was lost at sea, I was under the waves, Before love rescued me, I was a fighter, I could turn on a thread, Now I stand accused of the things I've said...
I used to make love under a red sunset, I was making promises I would soon forget, She was pale as the lace of her wedding gown, But I left her standing before love came to town...
I ran into a juke joint when I heard a guitar scream, The notes were turning blue, I was dazing in a dream, As the music played I saw my life turn around, That was the day before love came to town...
I was there when they crucified my Lord, I held the scabbard when the soldier drew his sword, I threw the dice when they pierced his side, But I've seen love conquer the great divide...
When love comes to town I'm gonna catch that train, When love comes to town I'm gonna catch that flame, Maybe I was wrong to ever let you down, But I did what I did before love came to town!
Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFd-g2oqBjc&feature=related
(Lyrics from "When Love Comes to Town" written by Bono)
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Who is Shamgar?
I've read the Bible from cover-to-cover more times than I can count, but somehow along each journey through its pages I missed the one-verse account of a man by the name of Shamgar.
Shamgar's Biblical story was brought to my attention while I was recently reading a book that had been suggested to me by a friend. (Yes, Steve W. I did finally break over and buy the hard-back version LOL).
Shamgar was a simple farmer who was sick and tired of being sick and tired... Been there? Me too. Not a fun place of existence, is it?
Shamgar's Biblical story was brought to my attention while I was recently reading a book that had been suggested to me by a friend. (Yes, Steve W. I did finally break over and buy the hard-back version LOL).
Shamgar was a simple farmer who was sick and tired of being sick and tired... Been there? Me too. Not a fun place of existence, is it?
Armed with only an oxgoad (a 7-ft pole, with a sharp point on the end, used to motivate oxen to continue to plow or move forward) this unimposing man made a decision to combat 600 Philistines. No one else wanted to fight. He had no professional military training. He had no stereo-typical weapons. He was outnumbered 600 to 1 and yet Shamgar was determined to combat the enemy by doing 3 things:
- Start where he was
- Use what he had
- Do what he could
Simple enough. Now, in all of the simplicity of Shamgar's approach, isn't it amazing to think that if each of us would apply those three things to our life God could accomplish incredible things through us?
You don't have to have lots of influence. You don't even have to have the support of your peers. Stop looking at how overwhelming the end result of your desired destiny will be and start where you are, use the resources presently available to you, and do what you can. After all, when it comes to serving God the greatest ability is availability!
You will be amazed at the results and I can't wait to hear your story!
(Works cited: "Believe That You Can" by Jentezen Franklin)
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Building Update...
I was able to for the most-part finalize the preliminary drawings for the new sanctuary. The floor plan and outside appearance are drafted and I look forward to unveiling them to you very soon. Also, the ground-breaking has been officially set for Easter Sunday @ 5pm...
The vision is beginning to really unfold now and my heart is anxious with both expectancy and excitement!
Please continue to undergird this endeavor with prayer, as we must never forget that unless the Lord build the house, those that build it labor in vain...
The vision is beginning to really unfold now and my heart is anxious with both expectancy and excitement!
Please continue to undergird this endeavor with prayer, as we must never forget that unless the Lord build the house, those that build it labor in vain...
Monday, January 12, 2009
Retreat?
I have noticed that in some circles of Christianity the term retreat is becoming more and more frowned upon. Scheduled time away from the hustle and bustle of every day life for the purpose of prayer or Bible study has long been referred to as a retreat, but now a new term is arising. The term is "advance" and its use as a replacement for "retreat" is centered around the need for the Body of Christ to be moving forward at all times.
The concept of always advance, never retreat was birthed from the ideology that we as Christians should never back away from the centuries old, on-going fight with hell. However, I believe this new way of thinking is somewhat unscriptural. Jesus made it clear that at times we simply must go away to a serene place. The Son of God, Himself, by example, set a standard of retreat. No, He did not ever give up enemy held territory, but He did on many occasions step away from the front lines of ministry for the sole purpose of being alone with the Father. Today, most of us seem to run to the crowds and ironically in the Gospels, Jesus always seemed to be running from them! This reality alone, leads me to the conclusion that it is not a bad thing to retreat to a place of solitude.
I actually believe my experiences during the last eight years of full-time ministry have taught me that without frequent retreats there will never be any significant advance! Perhaps, that is why HPC has experienced its greatest season of growth during the last three years. Literally, we have gained more attendees in the last three years than we did in the previous five. Noticeably the growth began when we launched the strategy of taking the Leadership Team away for 3 to 4 days in January of each new year to spend time alone, prayerfully seeking Heaven's will for the earth. Please take note: When we began taking serious the concept of retreat we amazingly became more effective at advancing the Kingdom!
A large portion of the Leadership Team has thus retreated once again in 2009 to the mountains of Tennessee for a time of prayer and fellowship. It has been great up to this point and I have no doubt that it will continue to get better as we further disconnect from every day life and embrace the richness of God's presence in the solitude of a mountainview cabin.
Thank you for lifting us up. We are seeking the face of God, asking Him for imparted revelatory vision for the coming year and He is speaking!
Remember we are most assuredly going FORWARD in 2009, but perhaps it would be very beneficial to you to first step back and gather yourself in order to ultimately go where you need to go! Don't give up territory you have won in the Spirit, simply take a break. Maybe even take a day off of work so that you can finally get alone with God. Pour your heart out to Him and still the noise in your life so that you can listen intently to His response to your pleas for wisdom. You'll be glad you did! :)
The concept of always advance, never retreat was birthed from the ideology that we as Christians should never back away from the centuries old, on-going fight with hell. However, I believe this new way of thinking is somewhat unscriptural. Jesus made it clear that at times we simply must go away to a serene place. The Son of God, Himself, by example, set a standard of retreat. No, He did not ever give up enemy held territory, but He did on many occasions step away from the front lines of ministry for the sole purpose of being alone with the Father. Today, most of us seem to run to the crowds and ironically in the Gospels, Jesus always seemed to be running from them! This reality alone, leads me to the conclusion that it is not a bad thing to retreat to a place of solitude.
I actually believe my experiences during the last eight years of full-time ministry have taught me that without frequent retreats there will never be any significant advance! Perhaps, that is why HPC has experienced its greatest season of growth during the last three years. Literally, we have gained more attendees in the last three years than we did in the previous five. Noticeably the growth began when we launched the strategy of taking the Leadership Team away for 3 to 4 days in January of each new year to spend time alone, prayerfully seeking Heaven's will for the earth. Please take note: When we began taking serious the concept of retreat we amazingly became more effective at advancing the Kingdom!
A large portion of the Leadership Team has thus retreated once again in 2009 to the mountains of Tennessee for a time of prayer and fellowship. It has been great up to this point and I have no doubt that it will continue to get better as we further disconnect from every day life and embrace the richness of God's presence in the solitude of a mountainview cabin.
Thank you for lifting us up. We are seeking the face of God, asking Him for imparted revelatory vision for the coming year and He is speaking!
Remember we are most assuredly going FORWARD in 2009, but perhaps it would be very beneficial to you to first step back and gather yourself in order to ultimately go where you need to go! Don't give up territory you have won in the Spirit, simply take a break. Maybe even take a day off of work so that you can finally get alone with God. Pour your heart out to Him and still the noise in your life so that you can listen intently to His response to your pleas for wisdom. You'll be glad you did! :)
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Charles Dickens, The Prophet?
I've never been a huge Charles Dickens fan, but when he began his novel, "The Tale of Two Cities" with the infamous line, "It was the best of times and the worst of times...", I must admit that he uttered an ageless truth.
For the cause of Christianity the hour in which we live presents us with two distinct realities: 1.) Human society is as a whole far from God 2.) God has never been closer to earth.
Here is what I believe to be the significance of those two facts...
The moral decay of America has led to a downward spiral in every facet of society. It would therefore be easy to focus on the negative aspects of our current state. However, I see something different. I see a nation poised for revival. Every miracle starts with a problem and I will never believe that there are any aetheists in a foxhole. The time is now for the Harvest to be reaped! The more the ways of man collapse, the more apt they are to be open to the Gospel.
It is the best of times and yet still the worst of times... The rise of the antichrist has never been more possible and the coming of The Christ has never been more likely. The hot are getting hotter and the cold are getting colder. As David declared in his 83rd psalm, while his enemies were encompassed around him, "God will not be silent. He will not keep his peace. He will not be still!" The enemy may be reckoning havoc in unprecedented fashion, but God is always, ultimately, in control. For every hellish plot, there is already a heavenly plan in action. Satan does not act and then God re-act, it is vice-versus. The darker the hour, the more visible the light!
Heavenly Father, do not be silent. Do not keep your peace. Be still no longer, I humbly ask. For the Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." Manifest your light in this dark hour that all may see and know that you alone are the one true God.
For the cause of Christianity the hour in which we live presents us with two distinct realities: 1.) Human society is as a whole far from God 2.) God has never been closer to earth.
Here is what I believe to be the significance of those two facts...
The moral decay of America has led to a downward spiral in every facet of society. It would therefore be easy to focus on the negative aspects of our current state. However, I see something different. I see a nation poised for revival. Every miracle starts with a problem and I will never believe that there are any aetheists in a foxhole. The time is now for the Harvest to be reaped! The more the ways of man collapse, the more apt they are to be open to the Gospel.
It is the best of times and yet still the worst of times... The rise of the antichrist has never been more possible and the coming of The Christ has never been more likely. The hot are getting hotter and the cold are getting colder. As David declared in his 83rd psalm, while his enemies were encompassed around him, "God will not be silent. He will not keep his peace. He will not be still!" The enemy may be reckoning havoc in unprecedented fashion, but God is always, ultimately, in control. For every hellish plot, there is already a heavenly plan in action. Satan does not act and then God re-act, it is vice-versus. The darker the hour, the more visible the light!
Heavenly Father, do not be silent. Do not keep your peace. Be still no longer, I humbly ask. For the Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." Manifest your light in this dark hour that all may see and know that you alone are the one true God.
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