What will it take for you to love me? What will it take for you to accept me? What will it take for you to acknowledge that I am in the room? What will it take for us to work together and love one another?

Jesus told his disciples “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

I find it interesting and powerful that Jesus says “I’m giving you a NEW COMMAND.” He was putting himself in the same position as Moses and God too those listing. It was God who gave commands to Moses and then Moses inurn gave them to the people. We should not so easily dismiss this statement from Jesus to his disciples, as if to think it’s merely a good suggestion to love one another! If Jesus gave this as a command then guess what, “We will be judged on whether we did this command or not.” But put the judgment aside for a second and think about what is more important. Jesus says, “People will know you are His” when we love one another. This is a huge witness to the world about who WE belong too!

If we as Christians do not sincerely love one another then we are defeated at the most basic premise of our faith, which is founded on Love! We should not be so easily deceived either to think that I can love you and yet still harbor bitterness in my heart towards brothers and sisters in Christ who may have offended, hurt, or disagree with us. Jesus fully knew that we are human and that we at times hurt those we are called to love, and He tells us how to handle those issues. It’s called forgiveness. And make NO mistake about forgiveness, it’s far easier said then done! I’m sure as Jesus was being tortured for mine and your sin it wasn’t easy either!! At least Jesus had a reason to be frustrated with us, we are ALL sinful and nasty in the eyes of God, and yet He (Jesus) chose to love us all. How much more should WE who are broken sinfully stained people love others when we are ALL equally nasty and wretched??

I guess it’s just easier this way and less painful for me to notice (your) faults then to recognize my own wretched, nasty, ugly heart that is in desperate need of AGAPE love! I want to use this thought to compel us as Christ followers to DO something that I believe would AWAKEN the greatest movement of our day! It’s called ‘UNITY.” I want to be the first to repent and say that I have not always ACTED on what I am now suggesting! It’s easier to just hang out with people who are just like (us); Christians do the same thing: Charismatic’s hang with Charismatic’s, Baptists with Baptists, Non-Denom’s with Non-Denom’s, Catholics with Catholics etc.. I think you get the point. I’m not suggesting that everyone has to walk away from personally practices and beliefs in order to walk in unity either! I actually think this is where the greatest display of Christ’s love can be seen all the more. Christians, who do NOT see eye to eye on every point striving to help support, grow, serve, and love one another!

I realize that there are those who have professed they are Christians and are not. I realize there are denominations that support alternative lifestyles and support clergy who live in those alternative lifestyles, and I’m not suggesting that type of unity. We are called to love all people, but we are not called to walk with those who live and support blatant sin and choose not to repent. However, at this point that is a small margin of people and not the majority. We have many different denominations and they all exist because at some point people could not agree on issues of theology, practice and mission and decided to separate. I strongly want to say that its time we set these differences aside and strive for what truly hangs in the balance and that is given people Jesus and teaching them to love one another! Without Jesus people will spend eternity in hell, and that is far more important then our disputes!! We DO not have to see eye to eye on every point of theology for us to walk in unity! Think about it this way, do you see eye to eye on every point your boss makes where you work and yet you choose to continue to work there. What about your spouse? Do you see eye to eye on EVERYTHING, I would venture to say not! However, you may agree on 99% of everything, but you still choose unity over division because of the bottom line, which is LOVE! In the corporate world the bottom line is profit and everyone is willing to get past their personal issues to support the bottom line. Well, the same is true in Christianity the bottom line is Love expressing itself through unity. We ALL need to get past issues that divide us in order to make sure everyone is going to profit!

Let me be the first to say that this will not be an easy task. Pride is always a mouthful to swallow down. (LOL!) However, if we all drink a tall glass of the Holy Spirit He will help us wash it down! I hope if nothing else this note will spur you to consider ways you can tear down the walls that separate and work together. When I stand on the street corner as a bound4lifer, I stand with Catholics, non-believers and who ever else will stand for life! I’m not there to debate issues of theology because what’s more important in that moment is helping people hopefully choose life over death.

 Love and Blessings to all who read this note!

              I was reflecting on a word today that has been tossed around a lot here lately its called “Consequences.” Since I work in a shelter for kids/teenagers we discuss consequences often in hopes of helping them make better choices and decisions with their lives. Most of the time when we discuss consequences its based on negative out comes or poor decision-making and we try to use rationale in hopes of connecting the proverbial dots to better choices and decisions. However, I was thinking today, “what about the consequences of inaction”? What happens in our lives or doesn’t happen in our lives or the peoples’ lives around us because we choose to NOT act, therefore leading to consequences.

            You know consequences can be either positive OR negative; it simply speaks to an outcome! For example if I study really hard for a test then the consequences of my actions might very well land me and “A” on a final;)! However, if I party the semester away I could end up with a big fat “F” too;)!! So, what about our lives as followers of Jesus Christ?? What is at stake if we choose to live lives of “inaction”? There will none the less be a consequence for this decision as well. As a Christian you are assuming a responsibility, not just a title of spiritual status. In the book of James the author tells us that Faith alone is not simply good enough, but Faith accompanied with Action is what Christian living is really all about!

            Let me encourage you today, the average Jo, the stay at home mom or dad;) teenager, or child. It doesn’t matter what your gender is or age or color or anything else. If you identify with being called a Christian then you are completely qualified to make a difference in peoples lives! In fact it’s your primary responsibility to influence people by making them Disciples of Christ and teaching them to obey everything He commands. So how does this connect to inaction?? If you and I do nothing to influence and change our world with the hope of the gospel, then guess what, there will still be a consequence. If you do not pray your guts out then guess what, a consequence, if you are to busy to STUDY God’s Word another consequence, if we do not serve and love our brothers and sisters in Christ unconditionally then guess what another consequence, if we sit on a chair in complete under silence hoping nobody knows we are there, STILL a consequence! Do not be mistaken, a life of inaction will be judged too!  

            So, how can you make a difference? Glad you asked;)! First thing to do is STOP waiting for your church to create the next program for you to DO something for the Kingdom of God! This is one of the main reasons Christianity in America has come to a screeching halt! People are now waiting for their pastors, churches, and or church leaders to create something for them when actually everything you need is living right side of that thing you call a heart!! The passion of Jesus Christ lives in you and he wants you to take it to the streets, I say that figuratively speaking. Perhaps it’s a school you can volunteer at, or a food bank, or reaching out to your neighborhood. It really doesn’t matter. Who really cares if you try something and you fall flat on your face? At least you are exercising those muscles of faith and obedience, and guess what? You will be on your way to lifting some heavy spiritual weight for the kingdom of God. It’s at this point where I now see how if we are not careful our church environments will actually cause us to create spiritual atrophy in the body! Do you understand what I mean by that? If the local church does your “reps” for you, then YOU don’t get the muscle baby! Plane and simple!

            Well this went a little longer then I intended…Many Blessings! You can surf on by the theharborpensacola.com or 24-7pensacola.com for more details of what’s happening here in Pensacola. Peace Out!

Christians and church leaders will stand around talking about all the problems of our nation, or even preach about all the change that needs to occur, but fail to use the only penetrating weapon in their arsenal, and that’s teach people, and call people to a life of PRAYER! And LEAD by example! Not Pop corn prayer either! But prayer that comes from a broken heart filled with deep sorrow and anguish that keeps you on your face before the very throne of God! Crying, Waling, Weeping, Traveling, Screaming out for the very souls that God Almighty HIMSELF sent HIS only Son to DIE for. Get the revelation?? Here’s a video to help.

I am writing this because my heart is so burdened and desire to
serve my King so strong that I feel quite overwhelmed.
I have prayed for God to use me, I have prayed to be made of vessel, I
have prayed for the lost, I have prayed for the children, I have
prayed for the widow, I have prayed for opportunity…and now here I
am. God is using me (us), the lost are before us, the children are
here and greatly in need, there are widows and elderly who need help
and what do I feel?
I feel as though all I want to do is drop to my knees, and cry. The
needs are so great, there are so many and I am only one! All I can
think now is I must pray for laborers.
God please send the laborers, the harvest is full, there are so many.
Make strong those who are weak and tired, give rest to those who are
weary, ignite their hearts once again. The passion that has died in
many, God I pray your Holy Spirit will renew it again. We NEED them,
we need the laborers, we need those who will lay down their life,
their pride, and desire for fame.
Bring those who are willing to work, to roll up their sleeves, to pick
up broken pieces, those who are willing to give when no one gives
back. Bring those whose deepest and most desperate desire is to love
You and the people You have created.
This is my prayer, I cry as I write this.

God use me, equip me for the work at hand. I alone am not able, but
YOU are!

The Harbor along with other ministries will be teaming up to provide an outreach in the Heart of the City on August 1st, called “Give Love, Give Bike’s.” The plan is to give away 100 free  bikes, free food,  face painting for children, incredible music, and then to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people in need.

Now back to the 40 day Feast, and my work out! It was in that moment at the gym that I decided to look at the calendar on my phone and I counted the days up to the event. Guess what…It was exactly 40 days!! I think the Lord was telling me something. LOL. It was in that moment that He spoke this message to my heart. “I want you to Feast on my presence for 40 days, and then expect my power!”

So, we have re-arranged our schedules in order to be obedient to what the Lord has told us to do and we will be Feasting on the presence of the Lord for the next 40 days! Every night at 9 pm we will be corporately gathering together as The Harbor to feast on the presence of the Lord through Prayer, Worship, and God’s Word. We also will be prayer walking our city during this time, and believing God for Miracles, Signs, and Wonders for this up-coming event and to continue aftward. The idea behind feasting on the presence of God is not simply attending the nine o’clock gatherings but also looking at our daily lives and determining that whenever it’s possible take the time to feast on the Lord! What does that look like practically speaking?? Well, every-ones lives and schedules are different but one thing always remains the same, “YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.”

We are surveying our daily lives and the in-take of stuff and then cutting off the “FAT.” The Lord said to me if we will Feast on Him we will not have an Appetite in our belly’s for anything else.” That’s the reason this is a time of FEASTING and NOT FASTING. When we fast something we are focused on the thing we set side and can not have, however, if we FEAST our focus will be HIM and we will not desire anything else!

Listen to what I am about to say. The Church today is in desperate need for the power of God. Not simply just a revival, however revival will happen, but rather a movement of God’s power in this City and across the nations. We must shake ourselves this very hour, and open our eyes and realize that the church of America right now is VOID of the Power of God’s Holy Spirit. If you do not believe what I am saying than ask yourself these questions, and look and see if they are happening around you and your church. Are we experiencing what Jesus told the disciple’s to go and do Matt. 10:7-8, “Preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” And Mark 16:17-18, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands, and when they drink deadly poison , it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Personally, I haven’t been experiencing this on a daily basis not a weekly basis, or for that matter not really even on a yearly basis, and the majority of churches I know of are not either. I ask why?? I think the answer is found in Mark 9:28-29, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” asked the disciples, He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer!!” I think we have discovered the break down and why we are not seeing or experiencing the power of God’s Spirit today. We think we are praying, when actually we are “preoccupied.”We take a few minutes here and there to throw a few shout-outs to God and his peeps and call it good. This is reminiscent of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before His betrayal and crucifixion with the disciples. He keeps coming back to them saying, “WAKE UP,” keep watch and pray! Three times He comes and they were sleeping. We must shake ourselves from this place of spiritual slumber and realize that if we do not, their blood will be on our hands, as God told the prophet Ezekiel.

Please pray for this movement, and let’s all be apart of the solution! In Jesus Name!

I’m a very passionate person who loves God very much, and I love His church very much too however my passion and boldness at times can be a very powerful combination and people do not always like that. It can make you feel uncomfortable when someone says something that everyone in the room is thinking but nobody wants to speak up for fear of judgment. Well, I can tend to be that guy who speaks up whether your thinking it or not! So blogging for me has been somewhat of a frustrating journey because I have never really felt a complete freedom to express how I feel about issues plaguing the church today, such as christian living, church leadership/government, and a myriad of other topics for fear of how I would be taken.

The bible says in James 3:1, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” As a teacher and pastor I realize that our words carry tremendous weight and we should not be flippant concerning God’s Word nor instructing His people. Living life as a believer is not a game, its about eternal salvation and eternal separation from God for those that do not believe in Jesus Christ! So I have carried some pretty deep rooted issues that come with the blogging world and considered not being apart of it all together. However, its great to have friends who can pour into our lives and give us perspective and that’s what has happened for me and why I will continue to blog using it has a “TOOL.”

However, I decided that I would “Start-Over.”What do I mean by that, starting over? First, by communicating to every person that reads this blog and or subscribes to it that this is not for people who have faint hearts, and are easy offended. I wanted to communicate clearly before I began writing on topics important to me, that NOTHING I write is intended to hurt, offend, pic-on or other wise talk about any particular person, group and/or organization. These are the musing of my on heart and journey called life and how ”I” am processing and filtering through my own experiences and what I believe about life.  Now after saying that, I will never be a person that thrives on passionless talks that go nowhere and ultimately never leading people to change through the power of God’s Spirit! I feel as if I need to be true to myself, and to those who feel called to be connected to my ministry. So what does this mean practically speaking?

Well, first of all I feel there are some serious issues with the church of America today, and in order for me to be real, authentic, and genuine…I gotta talk about it, and bring some things to the light. I will not be offended in the least little bit if people who call me a friend do not read this blog. As the Apostle Paul clearly stated, “He” was called to the Gentiles, and his ministry looked different then that of the Apostle Peter’s. Each one of us must be true to the Holy Spirit of God, and DO what HE instructs us to do. We must live lives that are completely selfless and obedient to Jesus Christ and follow his voice, and realize that there will be times in which people think your completely crazy! Trust me, I have been down this road!! Here’s the deal. Ministry has never been about, “grabbing a warm blanket and a Fig-Newton and enjoying yourself! The Gospel was birthed under great persecution, and thrived under great persecution, will continue to advance under great persecution. The Gospel has never been about conveniences nor comfort, it’s always been about faithful obedience expressing itself through love.

What this does not mean: You are not going to read some weird strange doctrine or stupid interpretations of Scripture or belief system on this blog. However, you will read things that challenge the idea of what has become important to the American church today and its current leaderships’ ideology of how to make the CHURCH more relevant today. So, here’s the first thing on my mind.

Popular church of America today has become “Good” at having church services. We have sat down with our creative planning teams and have figured out how to captivate our congregations and keep their attentions for an hour and half! Whoop te friggin do!!! I have spent time in other countries where the people would be on their faces worshiping God for an hour and half and just be getting started, and this is without “Big Screens, Multimedia, Coffee Shoppes, Special videos, the latest technology, Lighting, Cushy Chairs, weak sermons that do not cause people to live lives of holiness, because it was birthed around great ideas instead of on your face before God crying out for his heart! WOW, CAN YOU TELL I’V BEEN A LITTLE PINT UP! LOL…  Now, this may not apply to you! So don’t be worried about it if the shoe doesn’t fit. But I can honestly say that I have experienced times where that was true in my own life and the temptation is strong to stay in that place. Why? Because it makes us feel good when everyone likes us and lots of people like our churches and the latest thing we are doing is being accepted by everyone in our community, and we don’t have enough room in the building to hold everyone! It’s human nature to want success. However, we have to check our hearts and motives in how we come to the conclusion that this is what God has called success. When we as church leader’s govern and lead our ministries and we make decisions based on what people think, if people are going to stay, come, go, or give more financially we have just traded the Power of God for a Form of godliness. This is dangerous ground to be on!! I realize no one is perfect, and especially church leaders. We are not imperviable to mistakes and failure, however we can not allow this blindness to continue either or else we will raise up a generation of people who have great concepts about God, but have no true power of God in their lives.

I want to encourage every person who is leading in someway in the kingdom of God to put their faces to the ground and their hands in the air and surrender everything to God. Allow the power of the Holy Spirit to fill you with immeasurable love and power to do everything he has called you to do!! You Can Do IT!!

Blessings.

IN HIS GRIP!