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“You are a connector to the current of the power of Christ.”

A thought by Steven Furtick (2010-09-21) from his book, Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible (p. 52). Multnomah Books. Kindle Edition . We so many times think that this is just about us but it isn’t.   It is all about showing how Christ can make a difference in the lives of those around you.  People need to know that there is a power that can make a difference in their lives and when they see that you have it they need to know where it comes from.  You are the connector from Christ to others and that needs to be our prayer. I like how those disciples in the Acts prayed.  They prayed in Acts 4.29-30 (Msg), “…give your servants fearless confidence in preaching your Message, as you stretch out your hand to us in healings and miracles and wonders done in the name of your holy servant Jesus.”  The healings and miracles and wonders where an opening to share the Message with others with boldness.  That is what He wants us to do.  The reason w

“It’s not wrong to feel fear. It is wrong to let that fear have the last word in your life.”

A thought by Steven Furtick (2010-09-21) from his book, Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible (p. 73). Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition . Fear is not always bad.  We had today here on Long Island our first snow.  Now it is only about 3 to 5 inches deep but this afternoon it has turned to ice.  I have a real respect for ice.  Maybe that is another word for fear but I am very cautious when it comes to ice.  I have lived in ice country and I am very careful when it comes to ice on the roads.  I have some very negative memories of trips with ice. Margaret and I were thinking about going to the Mall this afternoon to do some shopping.  I had thought it had stopped snowing and it would be safe so we were headed out the door until I noticed that the car was covered with ice.   That made me stop and reconsider so I said let’s not go.  So we didn’t.  I didn’t think the task was worthy of the risk but if one of our kids had gotten hurt and the

“Jesus never used guilt as a motivator. Guilt is so limited in its ability to effect change.”

A thought by Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson, (2011-07-19) in their book, Rumors of God: Experience the Kind of Faith You´ve Only Heard About (Kindle Location 691). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. Guilt is so easy to use isn’t it?  I remember when my dad would put his face in his hands and say about me, “Where did I go wrong?”   That would really get to me because my dad was my hero.  It would really make me feel bad about my behavior but I’m not sure if it really helped me to change it.  Now the fear of disappointing him because of my deep love for him was what would get me to change, not the guilt of what I had done. I know as a young minister I would be tempted to use the old guilt method of leadership and of preaching but I did everything I could to not use it.  Guilt may bring initial change but forgiveness had a more far reaching impact on bringing about change.   To show people how to take care of their guilt and how much God loved and the hope He gave was way more eff

“We are literally to fight against the arguments and irrational reasonings of our minds.”

A though by David Stoop in his book, You Are What You Think (Kindle Location 348). Kindle Edition. Have you learned how important this is?  There is so much that comes into our minds that we must not allow to take residence there.  It is junk, it is wrong, and it will hurt you. Now how do you fight against it?  Well first of all through prayer.  You could say, “Ok God.  I know this isn’t from You and I want You to give me thoughts that will counteract this thought.  Please don’t let it take residence in my mind.  Please don’t let me dwell on it but to reject it and release it.” Another way is to have a conversation with yourself in your mind.  I do this all the time.  When a negative thought, say it’s about someone, comes into my mind, I quickly come up with opposite thoughts until I am at peace.  I always strive to give people the benefit of the doubt.  I choose to make people winners.  You see, your thoughts are not right or wrong, they are just your thought and you ca

“Don't accept the false idea that your emotions, feelings, and behavior are controlled by the events in your life.”

A though by David Stoop in his book, You Are What You Think (Kindle Location 356). Kindle Edition . That false idea is so easy to believe isn’t it?  You start your day with a fight so you say, “There goes my day.”  Or your team won or lost yesterday and now you are in a good/bad mood. I am a major Los Angeles Dodger fan and there was a time that when they lost I let that totally control my emotions and my behavior.  Eventually I came to realize that I had no control over what they did so why should I let that affect me?   But a fight can be a different thing.  It takes two to fight so you have some responsibility in what happened but you still have to be careful about that controlling your emotions.  Now doing your part in resolving the situation is a good thing if you make it a choice not a reaction. Life is not perfect.  It rains on the just and the unjust so letting something else in your life control you has far reaching consequences in living life to its fullest.  L

“How did we get to the place where church is something primarily for “me” and a place I go to “get” something from it?”

A thought by Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson (2011-07-19) from their book, Rumors of God: Experience the Kind of Faith You´ve Only Heard About (Kindle Locations 1449-1450). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. It is so interesting how self-focused we as professed Christ-followers can be.  We profess to be other centered and Jesus centered but it doesn’t show by our attitudes, our actions and our love. There are so many who have a mistaken idea that the Worship Gathering is for them and they are so quick to say what they want, what they expect. Margaret and I will be moving next month to Seminole, Florida.  We have a church here in New York City we will miss that we drive 30 miles to be a part of because of its mission to reach out to the hurting, harassed and helpless.  We sit and worship with homeless people who come in out of the cold to get warm and to eat something.  That is what drew us to Forefront Church. Our church is a church filled with young people who have come

“Pray that God will give you assurance of his presence and clarity in every decision you make.”

A thought by Steven Furtick (2010-09-21) from his book, Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible (p. 74). Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition . What a great prayer to pray.  Can you realize the confidence you would have in doing what you have decided if you were assured of God’s hand in making the decision?  Let me tell you it makes all the difference in the world. There have been many decisions that I have made that were very difficult to do.  One time I moved my wife and two teenage children all the way from Virginia to Las Vegas to start a new church.  I spent six months in prayer before we made the decision to move and when we did, I know it was what God was leading us to do.  In the first six months I would have moved because of unbelievable difficulties if I wouldn’t have had the assurance of His presence and clarity in the decision.  That realization held me steady for 15 years in a very difficult assignment.  I also moved from there wi