Here's a Shout Out!

Great News! Bro. Harvey Whalen just passed all the driving requirements for driving our Buses! The transportation ministry team is growing! Yet not only is the team growing, He's growing and becoming a Healthy Disciple! Why is he growing? He's active in these four things: Worship (comes to services)/Connect (in a small group Bible study)/Serving (helping with buses)/Reaching (goes on Sat AM Outreach)! When you do these things you'll be a healthy disciple! When you see this new convert give him a Shout Out! Congratulations, bro!!!!!!!!!

While I'm on the subject of Sat AM Outreach let me give a shout out to the 35-40 people who came for the MEGA BLITZ last Saturday! Bro. Brandon rented a flat bed truck! We jumped on, some dressed in costumes, others with their permanent masks on! Ray got the portable PA pumping with music and we were rocking and rolling! We headed to the neighborhood and blitzed the hood by knocking doors! We had a candy rain at every stop for the kids! They loved it! We announced to all who we were and that we would be coming back the next day to pick them up for service! We were doing as Jesus said to do, " Go to the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house my be filled (Luke 14:23). Sunday the buses were full! Along with that we, too, built our faith as we fulfilled the will of God! Remember, When I save others I save myself!

Save Others and Save Yourself!

The 2008 E Group gathering is now history! 52 young men gathered together to quest for Apostolic ministry! Each session was power packed! Each session concluded with a time of "Fervent Prayer"! This cemented the messages to our spirits as we strove to strength our desire to become Men Seeking God! The passion for God of the young men was refreshing and extremely uplifting!



Many thoughts came to my mind during this time but one thought of Bro. Nathan Urshan II has stayed with me! In fact, I have quoted it to others, to help them understand the importance of soul winning in the life of the child of God. Bro. Urshan started a church at the age of 22 in Ft. Myers, Florida. Ten years later the congregation numbers approximately 200! When I think of that I get excited thinking about the souls that have been saved through his step of faith! Yet he stated: When I was saving others I was saving myself! In other words when you are teaching someone else not only do they get the benefit of salvation but you have to dig to find out what you really believe! It forces you to seek God! When you do that, you save your own self! He had evangelized a number of years, his name opening doors to preach in large churches yet his spiritual growth rate would increase dramatically when he began teaching someone a Home Bible Study! We ended our time at E Group with a challenge to each other to start teaching one Bible Study by December 1st! Not only will we save others but each young man will begin to build a solid foundation of Apostolic Beliefs! This foundation will support his Apostolic Ministry!

This what has happened in the life of Bro. Jason Carr! He had expressed that he wanted to teach a Bible Study and see someone to receive the Holy Ghost! He started a study at his parents house in Beaumont to a High School friend. Dan and his wife Charisse, have been attending the study for a number of weeks! Sunday, October 5th was a great day for two people, Dan and Bro. Jason. It was a special day for Dan because he received the gift of the Spirit that is evidenced by speaking in tongues. It was special for Bro. Jason because he saw someone he taught become a Child of God! The experience is helping both of them to be saved! Dan gets the words of truth from a friend and Bro. Jason gets reminded of those truths as he teaches and sees his friend experience God! Faith in the Word of God grows in each of their hearts as they experience the work of the Spirit.

Why don't you work on your salvation and join the E Group in a quest to teach a Bible Study! Try to start one before Dec 1st! That study will be the means to not only someone else's salvation but also your own!

Never Spiritually Retire!

Wow! What a great picture! Bro. Paul Price, age 86 and Bro. Ellsworth, age 87! Two men who are in their 80's each on a Spiritual journey to know Jesus!

Bro. Ellsworth last year at the age of 86, received the gift of the Holy Spirit and was baptized in Jesus name! His religious background was Judaism. (As Bro. Price stated, he is a miracle! Coming to the Lord at 86 and being a Jew who begins to follow Jesus is a miracle! He's like the apostle Paul, a Jew who converts to Christianity!)

Bro. Ellsworth is growing by leaps and bounds in the Lord! Why? He has a desire to Grow! He doesn't want to stay at the same level! How is it happening? First, he never misses a Worship service! He comes ever time the doors are open even at Kids Revival (You ought to see him as he tries to participate in the kids songs! It a blast!) Second, he is in a small Connect group! Wednesday nights he comes to service and is in a small discipleship group. Tuesday's he's in the Men's Starbucks Bible study! Third, even at his age he is looking for places to Serve! He has dreamed of having a luncheon of Liberian food at the church and to sell the recipes for missions. Fourth, he is Reaching! He invites and has brought to church individuals from his trailer park. He is consistently sharing his love of God and this church with his neighbors! Even at 87 he wants to become!

This weekend was a special time for our church and myself personally as Bro. Paul Price ministered in a powerful way! He is on a spiritual growth journey also. He wants to Know Jesus!

He stated to me that he had served the Lord since being in high school! He became an evangelist after his pastor's wife had a dream and drove to Sacramento and told him that it was time to go into the ministry. He had been married for just six months! He quit his job that next day and went to his home church and preached his first revival! He then built his own travel trailer to be able to travel as an evangelist. After evangelizing be went to Napa California and started the church. Eventually he became the Superintendent of the Western District (the leader of all the ministers in California and Nevada). He became a speaker who was sought out to speak at major conferences of thousands! He would speak and it would inspire people!

But in his own personal life he was frustrated! He didn't feel like he was changing and becoming even though he was a pastor and leader of leaders! He wanted to change! He begin to seek the Lord and became desirous to really know the Lord! A radical experience happened! God spoke with him and it changed his total life! He knew what was to do: To Know the Lord and to lead others into the same experience! That has been his message for the last twenty years!

I am intrigued by his honesty and openness. He had served the Lord for over forty years but did not really know the Lord! He was in his sixties when this spiritual event happen!

As I look at these two men, I am challenged to be a lifelong learner! I never want to stop in my quest to grow in God! I want to understand that I can never retire in my spiritual journey. I never want to think that I have arrived! I want to understand that my greatest days are ahead of me not behind me! I want to follow these men and grow spiritually as long as I have breath! Why don't you join us in the quest to grow spiritually and to really Know Jesus!

California Dreaming with Friends!

For the last few days, my wife and I have been traveling up the coast of California! We have driven Highway 1 in a mustang convertible! The top has been down, the sun shining and wind blowing in our hair! It's been fun!

As much as we have enjoyed the trip, the joy is always doubled because of our friends! Philip and Debbie White have been friends for 34 years! Each year we take a week long trip together! We laugh, eat and enjoy each others company! This friendship has been so wonderful! We have cried together, supported each other in life difficulties, challenged each other Spiritually and shared our dreams and disappointments. But it has not been just the couples but our children as well! Their lives are also intertwined even as they enter marriage! They share life with each other!

Friends are so important to have! They double your joy and half your sorrow. They add much value to your life! Listen to the words of the Wise One concerning friendship and the value they add:

Pleasantness:

Proverbs 29:9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friends springs from his earnest counsel. (NIV).

Protection:

Proverbs 29:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted...(Friends tells you when you have something on your face! It still embrasses you but they want you to look good!)

Value:

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. (NLT)

I thank God for my friends! They are the best! Time has enriched our love for each other! I encourage each of you to take time for your friends! Work on your relationships! Find friends who share the same passion as you do and be faithful to them!

Desperately Seeking!

This mornings latte @ Stell's was great! It was a double with non-fat milk and 4 splenda! (Three mixed with the espresso and 1 sprinkled on top!) The latte seemed to grow in its spender as I reflected upon our weekend! Thoughts of appreciation and joy always improve the present experience!

Bro. Jacob Pereida from San Antonia, TX ministered in a powerful way to our Youth (Don't you Love the Picture)! Each service was tremendous for anyone who was craving a Spiritual move of God! Sunday night was the icing on the cake! Teens and adults lying throughout the building praying and crying out for God's glory to be displayed in their world! Not for five minutes but at least for an hour! They were desperately seeking God's signs and wonders to be displayed in our church!

Why do I want a display of God's Glory (miracles)? Because the miracles of the Lord were used to attract people to His message! The miracles were not salvation but were used to cause people to want to hear the message of salvation! The most important action that we ever take is our response to the voice of God! The message of His Word is supreme! I want people to know that God exists and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Any person who diligently seeks the Lord will be led by the Spirit to the true Message! The message is that the Kingdom of God is here and you need to enter into the Kingdom. How do I enter into the Kingdom? By a birth of Water (Jesus name baptism) and a birth of the Spirit (Infilling of the Holy Spirit that is evidenced by speaking in tongues)! (John 3:5).

Jesus had many followers who were influenced by His miracles but became offended by His message (John 6:60-69). In the making of disciples the most important thing is " and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you " (Matt. 28:20 NIV)! Disciples understand that obedience to His Word is the mark of discipleship (John 14:15). Disciples who become great in God's kingdom are used to see miracles happen and use the miracles as a platform to proclaim His message! God, give Hope Center Miracles, Signs and Wonders for we are shouting out your Message!

Thank you Bro. Eric and Sis. Rose for your leadership this past weekend! Give a shout out to the Worship Band, they were awesome (Michael, Ray, Stacey and Todd)! Praise singers, you were fabulous (Barb, Rachael, Roberta, Rose, and Selena). Andrew, Eric, Nathan, and Ray were super worship leaders! And a shout out to Christa and Valerie for ministering with the worship band in When I Speak you Name!

Now go conqueror the week! Let's all seek diligently God's presence through prayer and His Word! Listen for His voice and obey! Tell someone about the weekend! Blow their mind with your passion for God! Tell them about the miracles in your life and give the Glory to God! You'll be surprised at what you be able to do! You'll be able to tell them about Jesus and His message!

Men Becoming Men of God!

What a time @ Pali Mountain! The Men's retreat was awesome! Bro. John Shoemake of San Jose was powerfully used by God to challenge each man to climb to a higher level! God's Spirit filled the room each service and each heart responded! What powerful time for me as we prayed with each other! I was moved to tears as Jarad Hibbets wept before the Lord! As men's voices are lifted in song and praise, strength is experienced by all. The power of united men, interlocking their arms, and reaching for God is overwhelming! Being a Band of Brothers is wonderful!

Yes, I love to go to men's retreat! The time I am able to spend with each of my brothers is priceless! As we sit around the dinner table the stories begin to roll! The tales begin to grow taller and taller! Laughter begins to fill each mouth as we listen to competing stories! It's the best entertainment that could ever be! HA!

The Men's Ministry Team did an outstanding job. The team is led by Bro. Jason Carr, who is supported by Bro. John Smith and Bro. David Candelaria. The success of the retreat was because these men gave themselves to the Lord and us! Their hard work is appreciated by all!

This year we had our largest number of men ever to our retreat! Next year promises to be larger because the men of our church are giving themselves to the God in Worship and prayer! They are doing all they can to Connect to every man who comes or visits our church! They are Serving God and others through ministry. But they are not stopping there, they are Reaching out to draw in men to become Spiritual Brothers! Encourage the men in your life to become Men of God and see how unbelievable your family and home will BECOME!

When do I lose my Faith?

This morning I was reading Jesus words to Peter in Luke 22:31-32:

Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.

I begin to ask myself a number of questions:

Did Peter's faith fail? It sure seems like it for Peter ends up sinning! He denies the Lord and curses when confronted by the young girl and others while warming himself at the fire! (Matt. 26: 69-75)

If Peter's faith failed then did the prayer of Jesus also fail to protect Peter from the sifting of Satan?

As I pondered these questions another thought came: If the Lord's prayer failed, then there is no hope for mine to be successful! I'm so unrighteous and He is so righteous!

The answer seemed to come as I asked myself more questions. Is faith needed before I fail or after I fail? Or is faith tested while I am tested to obedience and if I fail to obey it is finally tested with receiving of forgiveness?

I began to realize that faith is needed to obey! Peter's lack of faith is seen in his denial as fear for his own life takes over his actions and produces denial. Fear an enemy of Faith!

But the greatest and final failure of an individuals faith is when faith in the mercy and forgiveness of God is not received! That is when sifting or separation from God happens! Not seeking forgiveness neither receiving forgiveness when it is extended to us by God will cause us to be separated from God! This will lead to separation for God for eternity!

The prayer of Jesus did not fail! Peter wept as he thought on his failure (Mark 14:72). He sought forgiveness and believed that he was forgiven! His faith in forgiveness gave him the ability stop the desire of Satan of destroying the relationship that Peter had with the Lord!

Don't let Satan tell you that your sin is final! You've lost your faith! No, the job of faith is not over! It will strengthen and support you to believe in the power of the blood and mercy of Jesus! Only when I lose faith in His forgiveness of my sins will I be separated from my hopes and dreams of being a great man of God!

What was Peter to do when he came back from failure? Strength his brothers! Strength them in their faith! I like this version of this event:

Luke 22:31-32 31“Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. 32Simon, I’ve prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start.” (The Message)

Give someone a fresh start and teach them about God forgiveness by living it out in front of them! You sinned? It's alright! Seek forgiveness and start again!