San Diego "Youth Connect 2009"

Powerful! Life Changing! Challenging! How else can I describe the Service that I have just been in?

It was a great Spiritual Landmark for our youth and myself! God used Bro. Cody Marks to minister in the Holy Ghost and challenge each of us to reach to higher spiritual dimensions! I loved being with our teens and being able to pray a special prayer with each of them! It refreshed my spirit to draw the young guys close, hug and pray for each one! Tears flowed, dedications were made, renewal came to young men who were struggling to believe in themselves! But God let them know that He believes in them! Failure is not final! Get up and reach again! It's going to happen in your life!


But it did not stop there! My wife was able to do the same with our young ladies! They too, let the tears flow and became determined to live a "sold out" life for God!

The trip was filled with times of fun and laughter also! They went to "Old Town" San Diego, Hotel Del on Coronado Island (Some of the girls were a little scared of the Bridge to the Island! It's a little high!) and other sites. After Friday night service there was a lock in with lots of fun and food!

But the highlight for me was the services! Thursday's night message on Prayer is so powerful that we are making that CD available at our church for $3.00 this Sunday AM & PM! Pick one up in the "Book Center" and let it change your prayer life! Join me and let's make our church a powerful church of Prayer!

A Beautiful Granddaughter!

This week a wonderful new addition has been added to our family! Brandon and Rachael have been be blessed by the Lord with a precious daughter: Audrey Lanae Wilmoth! 7lbs 4 oz. and 20 inches long! Not only has our family been blessed but the Kingdom of God has grown!

It's important to understand that our first mission field is our family! Our children and grandchildren must be trained and developed in the ways of the Lord! Each generation has the responsibility to pass on the truth's of the Word of God. These truth's must be focused upon if they are going to continue to lead the people of God! They cannot be become thought of as "old fashioned" neither "out of touch with our world".

What are the truth's that we must pass on? The truth of:

1. "One God"

2. "The necessity of receiving the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues"

3. "Water baptism in the Name of Jesus"

4. "Separation from the World and separation to God"

5. "The importance of Spiritual growth through daily prayer & daily reading of the Word of God"

6. "Proper Christian living"

This list is not exhaustive but a simple 1st step!

Remember:

Proverbs 13:22
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children...

Join me and give your children and grandchildren the most valuable possession you have for an inheritance: The Truth's of the Word of God!

Coming back! Watch out!

It's been a LONG while since I've posted but I'm going to get back at it! We've been in revival with Bro. Jonathan Stringfellow and it's been powerful!

Our Revival will be tonight and Tuesday night! No service Wednesday night! We moved our Wednesday night service this week to Tuesday since it's the last night of the Revival! So make sure that you remember! It promises to be power packed!

Last night was wild! We had fun church! It was a party! Great faith and joy was experienced by all!

Two things to remember:

1. The Father is a party animal! He loves to party! He wants His children to have Joy! He's always got a fatted calf ready, just waiting for someone to return to Him (Luke 15)!

2. "Ain't no party like a Holy Ghost party and a Holy Ghost party don't stop! The party started last night! Let's party on in God! Have a Holy Ghost party today and life will look better!

A Great Weekend!

Well I'm back! I've been busy but that's no excuse. Let's face facts, the blog has not been a priority. It's time for that to change!

The Valentine weekend was a great weekend! I was able to spend time with the main woman in my life, my wife of 33 years! It was special!

Not only was that special but Hope Center was blessed with the ministry of two powerful Apostolic Pentecostals: Bro. Jimmy Shoemake and Sis. Bobbie Shoemake. As the speakers for our annual marriage retreat they were outstanding! Married for over 51 years their wisdom was priceless! Their ministry on Sunday was blessed of the Lord! Both of his message were powerful and her ministry was so fitting leading us into the presence of God!


I've often pondered this question: Where do you go for support for marriage if you do not have a church family?

I asked a friend who is not a minister neither member of our church that question. I asked specifically: where do you receive support for marriage? at your job? from your family? from friends? He stated that working as an EMT specializing as a Air Medic he has much interaction with city fire department along with other medic's and they were is much discussion about marriage but always in a negative sense! That life would be better not being married than having the work and maintenance of marriage!

Just as I thought! In our world there are few institutions that support your marriage! But the church is different! It's teaching and preaching challenge an individual to examine themselves as to their area's of weakness. This action supports you having a wonderful marriage. Why? Marriage should not be about changing your mate but you working on life change in you. Don't work on your mate, work on yourself!

That being said the best marriages should between two children of God! Two people led by the Spirit of God! His Spirit and Word challenging each one to become better! Yes, I glad I've got the church to work on me because as it works on me, my marriage grows and becomes! I love being in the church for it supports my life happiness that comes from being in a wonderful marriage!

Remembering who I am!

Who am I? That's a very important question!

I am a Pentecostal! What's a Pentecostal?

Wikipedia describes a pentecostal as "A Pentecostal is an individual who is a Christian that places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the baptism of the Holy Spirit with Speaking in Tongues (italics words added by blogger). The term Pentecostal is derived from the feast of Pentecost which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ as described in the Book of Acts, Chapter 2."

Wikipedia goes on to say that:

"Pentecostalism is an umbrella term which includes a wide range of different theological and organizational perspectives. As a result, there is no central organization or church which directs the movement. Most Pentecostals consider themselves part of broader Christian groups. Pentecostalism is also theologically and historically close to the charismatic movement as the latter was influenced by the Pentecostal movement, and some Pentecostals use the two terms interchangeably."

But I am more than a Charismatic! I am a Oneness Pentecostal! What is that?

Oneness Pentecostals hold to a conservative monotheistic view of God and stress Jesus Christ as the self revelation of God in the New Testament, who was known as Jehovah in the Old Testament. The Christian Monotheist Oneness doctrine rejects all concepts of a duality, trinity, pantheon, or other doctrines they see as representing multiple personalities of God. It rejects all concepts of Jesus Christ as anything different than being both fully God and fully man.

But I am more than that! I am an Apostolic Oneness Pentecostal! What is apostolic?

Something that relates to the twelve apostles of Jesus!

My belief is to use the twelve apostles as a model of what a disciple of Jesus should believe and live since they were the individuals who Jesus discipled [Paul is also included in this group since he is an apostles born out of due time (1 Corinthians 15:8)]! They recorded the teachings and the events in the Life of Jesus. Christianity uses these records as the foundational guiding truths to their beliefs (The New Testament)!

What did the apostles believe and live?

They experienced the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 1:12-15; 2:1-4; 10:44-46; 19:1-7)

They baptized in water in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38; 8:14-16; 10:47-48; 19:1-6)

They taught that personal salvation was to be followed by holy living (Ephesians. 2:1-22; II Corinithians 6:14-7:1; I Corinthians 11:1-16; I Timothy 2:8-15; Deuteronomy 22:5; I Peter 3:1-6; Titus 2:11-12; I Timothy 4:12-16)

They taught the oneness of God (John 1:1-4; II Corinthians 5:19; II Timothy 3:16; John 8:24, 58; Mark 12:28-34)

But the one belief that I am been thinking about a lot lately is: They believed that Jesus would come back and that it could happen at any time!

Matthew 24:42 -45

42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (KJV)

This belief is a powerful belief that can change everything in your life if you believe it and remember it! Relationships will improve if you remember this! How you might ask? Relationships are often strained by hearts that are full of unrepented actions and/or attitudes. These actions or attitudes are sin! Sin will keep us from going with Jesus when He comes back! When we remember that He is coming back and it could happen at any moment, it will cause us to humble ourselves and repent of any and all wrong doings!

This belief will assist us in not just making wrongs from the past right but to help us monitor our present day words, actions and thoughts! You will have a desire to protect your heart and mind by limiting what comes in our eyes and ears. Repentance will be on your lips at all times! Holy living will be your goal!

Believing that He could come at any moment will create an attitude of prayerfulness! Your prayer life will immediately improve! Prayer will be the first thing on your lips in the morning and the last thing at night! Prayer will be on your lips breathed under your breath when you are in a crowd!

Your mind and heart will crave His word! Your Bible will become the most read book in your house!

You will desire to attend and participate in the Worship services of your church! It will not be work to get ready to go! You will anticipate every gathering! Your tongue will sing His praises!

Serving others will become your purpose! The thought that Jesus is Coming will be a motivator for you to reach others! Fear will leave you as you realize this might be the last opportunity for your friend to hear that Jesus is coming! You will begin to speak with a confidence that you've never had before!

In my life one man stands out above the rest of an individual who consistently spoke about the Lord coming! He was not a preacher! He was a ditch digger! His name was T.R. McDonald! Every time you would see him he would ask you the question: Do you believe He's coming? The majority of time I answered yes! I would say it with all the excitement I could generate but as soon as I was out of his presence it seemed I would forget this truth! As I think about it today, I see that he was just trying to get everyone to live a life that would be powerful and passionate about the Lord! He did believe it, he lived it and he spoke it! Now it is my turn to believe it, live it and speak it!

In my life I want to constantly remember that Jesus is coming at any moment! Let that be priority in my life! Let that thought drive my every daily action!

Yes, I am Pentecostal but more than that, I am Oneness Pentecostal, but more than that, I am an Apostolic Oneness Pentecostal but more than that, I am a Apostolic Oneness Pentecostal who is living as if Jesus is coming in the next minute!

The Solution for Your Worry of Today's Economy!

Today started out with a bang! My wife and I usually start our day with prayer at the church in the early morning hours. On Thursday's and Friday's we are joined by a wonderful young lady of our congregation, Stacy! Today, I was doing some reading and my wife went to the church a few minutes earlier than I. It was about 5:20 AM and my phone rang. It was my wife! She had entered the church through the office door and had went to the front door to meet Stacy, who was off today, to open the front glass door for her of the church. A man was lying at the outside door under the church porch coving! He looked like he was asleep but was not moving! She immediately called me wondering how far I was from the church! She was scared! Stacy would arrive at any time! Would Stacey see him lying there and stay in her car or would she not see him and come to the door? How could she warn her?

I had already placed my reading materials in my backpack and was getting dressed before the phone rang but I was worried if I could get there in enough time. I called "911" to have an officer get there ASAP! We didn't know if the man was dead or just sleeping! I jammed to the church an arrived at the same time as the officer! Stacey's car was there but empty! The ladies were alright! They were in my wife's car waiting for me! My wife at slipped out the office door and met Stacey when she drove up! Stacey had justed in the car and was safe!

I met the officer and apologized!The man was still lying at the door! It had been raining heavily and the "homeless" man had just wanted some shelter from the rain! The officer thought it was best to awaken him and check him out! He was fine! And everyone was safe!

As I started to pray, I began to thank God for His goodness! Our service the night before was a Thanksgiving Service to God for His goodness! Later today I would be leaving to spend Thanksgiving with special friends! I had so much to be thankful for!

Yet I thought as I prayed "Could I be content with the necessities of Life?" I had a warm bed to lie on, not a cold hard cement mattress! I had a roof to shelter me from the rain on a stormy night! I hadn't had to look for shelter, I already possessed it! I had food to eat and clothing to wear! Why should I be worrying about the economy? I couldn't change it, but I could change if I would have the necessities of Life! How could I make sure I would have my needs meet?

I remembered the words of Jesus:

Matthew 6:25-34
25“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

31“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

33Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (NLT)

My needs (Shelter, food and clothing) would be met because I am seeking His Kingdom above all else! I want his will not mine! I live and breathe His Spirit, His Word and His Way! He'll take care of me!

Today the report came out that the US consumer confidence is at a 28 year low! Here are some quotes:

"U.S. consumer confidence fell to a 28-year low in November as mounting job losses, falling incomes and tumbling household wealth battered sentiment, a survey showed on Wednesday."

"Consumer confidence fell in the last half of November due to mounting job losses, falling incomes and the evaporation of household wealth," the report said."

"Consumers were unanimous in their recognition that the economy was in recession, and nearly three-in-four expected the recession to deepen in the months ahead." (Here's the link: www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2635956920081126)

These actions of Americans fulfill the prophecy of the Lord: These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers (See above)!!!!!!!!!

Don't let the These Things dominate your thoughts! Keep seeking and thinking about the Kingdom! If you do, the needs of your life will be provided to you from the Lord! He takes care of His own!

******News Flash************

I've been in Liberia for the last week with 17 wonderful saints of Hope Center! Bro. Brandon Wilmoth just preached our 4 day crusade in Monrovia and over 2003 individuals received the Holy Ghost! It was powerful! Today, six teams preached all over the city! Bro.'s Brandon, Eric, Ray, Nathan, Israel and myself! It was wonderful! Bro. Albert Stewart the missionary has invited us back for a crusade! He told us as we were leaving the pastors were calling late into the night to have a preacher from the crusade team to preach today! Next time he wants every individual to be assigned to a church to preach!

Not only was it rewarding to see the results but to see young men preaching the word of God some for the first time! Kyle Hibbets a young man in our church preached at the Bible School Chapel and was very anointed! He had never preached before but he said it felt so natural!

Not only did our men preach but the ladies were involved in testifying, singing and praying! The Sunday School teacher that were on the team ministered at a special children ministry called "The Farm"! The kids loved the puppets and the "Na Na" song!

That's my dream to see every saint of Hope Center fulfilling the call of God for their lives! Don't stop dreaming! Reach for the Stars! Be a mighty individual for God!