It is Time to Pray and March For Senator Obama

I am a political junkie with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Criminal Justice. It is my belief that we should pray and march in North Carolina before the May 6, 2008, primary election. We can't wait to react after the Democratic Party awards the Clintons the nomination. We must stop this insanity before it is too late.

According to Hillary Clinton the superdelegates should vote for her because it is for the good of the party. If we use her same “logic” those same superdelegates should vote for Obama now (today) for the good of the country and the Democratic Party.

As a people we know spin and bull ---- when we see and hear it. The only way that Hillary can win the nomination is if the Superdelegates over rule all the voters in the states that Obama won. How can any black person support the candidate and party that will do that to us after our years of loyal support of that party?

We all have special talents and divine purposes. God has created someone for just this time in history. That person or group of people needs to start the movement for “ALL’ Obama supporters Blacks, poor, Whites, young, old, Asians, Hispanics to match in NC before the next primary election. We must voice our demand that the Superdelegates honor the primary election results and rules passed before the start of the primary.

After Obama won in Iowa, I posted “A Prayer for The Protection of Obama” on yourblackgospel.com. Part of my post:

“As I completed my assignment from God (writing my book) “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined." He placed 2 Chronicles 7:14 in my heart: I am to declare His words to the world: “If my people, which are called by my Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (KJV)

Lord we come before You this day seeking your face Lord, seeking your protection God as we venture into our new political reality. We believe that we will soon witness the manifestations of the promises that you made to Dr. Martin Luther King and our forefathers God. Thank You Lord for the fact that we are living during this time.

Lord God please protect Senator Barack Obama as he matches towards his divine destiny. Lord Father God we praise your Holy Name Jesus. God we know that the enemy comes to seek, to devour, and to destroy. Father God please protect Obama from the people of this world who do the enemy’s works on the earth.

Please God place it in the hearts and minds of this nation and its people the wisdom and courage to demand and respect an orderly, fair, and impartial political process during this historic election year. Please God heal this nation from the hurts and division of the last two presidential elections.

Please God let Americans behave as one nation united under God. Father, help us to turn from our wicked ways God. Help us Lord to daily seek your face God. Jesus we praise you and we glorify your Holy name.

You are so Holy Lord. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the Glory. Forever Amen."

Vera Richardson author of “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined.”

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ISBN=9780615177014

Why I Let Him Love Me

Ever since I came to know Jesus, I wanted to be more and more like him. At first, I tried my best to be as Christ-like as I could, but found that that was futile. Using a scripture that I have often quote, Paul the apostle said this, “For I know that in me (that is in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (Rom. 7:18-19) What Paul was saying was that even though he wanted to do well, because of sin in his flesh, he did not have the power within himself to do so. And so it was with me.

So to make a long story short, after some years of struggle and seeking how to be more “Christ-like,” I found that the bible actually teaches that if I had accepted Jesus as my savior, (which I had) then I was already Christ-like. It was Paul again who said, “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God…” (2 Cor. 5:17) I was like Christ already but just didn’t know it.

…But what of my erratic behavior and my occasional bad feelings, attitudes and other faults I could see in myself? How could I be Christ-like if I embodied these “un-Christ-like” characteristics? Well, to make another long story short, I found that the “new me” that Paul talked about, the new “Christ-like” me, was my “inner man” and that God had changed me on the “inside” when I accepted his Son. The key now was to get the new inner me from the inside to the outside.

So, shortening one last long story, I learned again from Paul that if I believed what God’s word said about me; that is, if I believed that I was already Christ-like, that a transformation would begin, and that my new “Christ-like” inner self would start to emerge into my outer, behavioral life.

Paul said, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Rom. 12:2) He was talking about how we think about ourselves, and that we should think according to what God’s word says about us, not according to what we see in ourselves. And this way of thinking will in turn transform us, bringing the new Christ-like person on the inside to the outside… “For as (a man) thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Pr. 23:7) This was exactly what I was searching for.

What I found was the New Testament way of living that Paul always talks about. It is living by faith rather than works, believing rather than trying.

What Paul taught was that in the Old Testament man was required to do, but in the New Testament man was required to believe. And it would be our believing that would transform us and empower us to do.

About New Testament living, Paul said, “… we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” (Rom. 7:6 NIV) Paul calls this new way of living “walking in the spirit,” (having faith in God’s word) as opposed to “walking after the flesh,” (trying in our own strength). According to Paul, the Old Testament was intended to prove to us that we could not fulfill God’s requirements without Christ, but that Jesus would be everything for us; both to save us, and to enable us to live the Christian life God calls us to live. Without the Lord, we have only ourselves. Ouch!

(It’s no wonder Paul wrote more than half of the New Testament. He knew so much!)

But even though faith is the key to salvation and to our Christian walk, there is something more encompassing than that. It is Paul again who talks about being “filled with all the fullness of God.” Wow! “, Filled with all the fullness of God!” That sounds amazing doesn’t it; but just as amazing as it sounds is as possible as it is. And Paul prayed for it to come to pass in our lives and explained how it could be done in Ephesians 3:17-19.

Now, isn’t that what we are after? If we can be filled with all the fullness of God, we will be filled with love because God is love. And of course if we are filled with God’s love guess what will flow out of us. It is love of course.

Now, simply put, if we want to be filled with all the fullness of God, we must let God love us. Until we let God’s love into our lives we cannot be filled with God because God is love.

When we accept Jesus as our savior, we let God cleanse us and forgive us and give us eternal life, (all part of his love). But there is much more he wants to do for us. Because God is endless, so is his love. He wants to love us endlessly.

People often complicate God. He simply wants to love us. He always has.

It is good to remember God’s original intention in creation. He intended mankind to be blessed with every possible blessing and to live with him in a paradise forever, and his will hasn’t changed. In fact, he sent Jesus to reveal his will to us, and to restore to us what we lost in the Garden of Eden; for here and for hereafter. Jesus said, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” (Jn. 10:10 Amplified Bible) It is the enemy who deceives us and portrays God in a way that is judgmental, disapproving and condemning. Yes, God will judge men on judgment day, but we are now in a time of grace. Because he is love, God sent Jesus into the world not to judge men but to save and deliver us from judgment and condemnation.

Remember the woman caught in adultery? Though caught in sin, and accused by men, Jesus would not lay blame on her. In fact, he defended her from her accusers. And when all of her accusers had left, Jesus told her that he would not condemn her, instructed her not to sin anymore, and sent her on her way. (Jn. 8:3-11) What a loving, forgiving, merciful God! And it’s a good thing or we’d all be in trouble. But we are not. Jesus died so that we wouldn’t be judged! And he rose from the dead so we could have life. What he wants now is for us to receive his love, his forgiveness, his blessings and the instruction he has for us. If we do this, we will be filled and blessed by him to the full. And once filled with him, we too can be like him and be a blessing to those around us.

Isn’t that something? To do what we are supposed to do and to be what we are supposed to be, we have to let God love us!

So, to be "filled with all the fullness of God." we must live a life of letting God love us more and more.

Let me close this article with something else from Paul’s writings when he said, “And now I will show you the most excellent way.” Then he explained that the most excellent way was the way of love. He said, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Cor. 13:4-8 NIV)

This is the way God is and the way he wants to be toward us. So why wouldn’t we let him love us? And how can we expect to love as he does unless we let his love into our lives?

That is why I let God love me… Because I want to experience as much of God as I can and be as much like him as I can. I want to be “filled with all the fullness of God.”

And just imagine… being filled with a love that never fails! That’s for me, how about you?

Submitted by John B. Agati
Author of : “Suffering, (God’s Will?)”

More information about this and an upcoming book “Suffering, Unanswered Prayer, (And How to Fix the Whole Thing),” along with a short bio may be found at: www. jbagati.com

SO MANY BLESSINGS TO THANK GOD FOR

May grace and peace be yours, sent to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. Ephesians 1: 2,3 (NLT)

Friends, how often have you said, “I wished I had thought of that?” Well this is surely one such occasion for me. Not very long ago I was surfing the web and discovered, no that’s the wrong word, instead I should convey that I was led to this wonderful writing by Danny Doege entitled: 53 Blessings That Happen To A Person After Believing On The Lord Jesus Christ, I am sure you'll appreciate this site.

http://www.biblebelievers.com/Doege1.html

This is truly big friends, it scripture that supports a list of 53 definitive blessings that occur once we’ve declared Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The more I reviewed and read about the 53 blessings, the better I felt about being adopted by our loving Heavenly Father.
I realize that I am often guilty of not always focusing on my many blessings. Does that also happen to you also? I am sure God desires that we operate differently from here on out! I say in one breathe that I am blessed, but often, my concerns and reservations quickly over shadow the gift of God’s many blessings.

The irony regarding God’s blessings are this: the more we read,reflect and study scripture the more we understand of just how blessed we truly are!
Yes, there are too many days that my Bible study is cut short or not at all. So when we don’t read and been encouraged through scripture, we are hard pressed to remain upbeat, think positive and act accordingly! Surely counting our blessings is out of the picture and then the battle ground of our mind is ripe for the enemy to wreak havoc. Well let's agree to stop the negative thinking aka "stinking thinking!”

Instead let me purpose that we consider this: during moments that we can’t readily reach for our bibles and favorite devotionals let’s opt to reach for this outstanding list of 53 blessings. Here’s a wonder resource with scripture and biblical truths written clearly for all of us to appreciate and apply.

As I share this observation with you it becomes more apparent that not having enough “scripture/word” in us causes us to be easily distracted and removed from the truth. Remember the spiritual battle is waged in our minds. Be sure to reference Ephesians 6 for further clarification. We can be grateful for this resource compiled by Danny Doege; it reminds us of how wonderful God’s many benefits are because we believe in Jesus Christ. I am confident that you’ll also concur that indeed here’s another inspirational spiritual tool for what ails us!!

As I wrote this reflection, I beleived that the Holy Ghost was directing me to further encourage us to be hearers and doers regarding embracing these 53 Blessings. So to that end here are some resource application tips you may wish to implement in your personal lives and your ministries in an effort to improve spiritual growth.

RESOURCE APPLICATION TIPS
For Embracing:
53 Blessing That Happen To A Person After Believing On The Lord Jesus Christ by Danny Doege
http://www.biblebelievers.com/Doege1.html

Let me suggest that you first exercise prayer, asking God about how to effectively share and use this 53 Blessings as a part of your daily devotion time, or as a Christian Education resource and even when you’re on the move. Here are some applications tips that came to my mind. I think you’ll enjoy enhancing your ministry with these suggestions. Friends none of this is written in stone, so feel free to adapt these tips, rewrite them, and comfortably create your own; just step out in faith and do it!

Why not consider...

• Posting 53 Blessings on your refrigerators, bath room mirrors, the night stand and read the blessings daily-take the words to heart! Insert your name, or your families name where the words we are written.
• Daily placing one Blessing in the kid’s lunch bags and be sure to take it to work with you also.
• Speak audibly blessings over your life and your loved ones lives. Share with a colleagues. Ask God to lead you to the coworkers that you should share Blessings with.
• Read it out loud the Blessing(s) for the day, or have one of the children read it aloud before they leave the house. Make it a family activity. Stop for a moment and hear God’s words and let these truths resonate in your spirit.
• Read a Blessing each week and reference scripture during your private worship and prayer time to enhance your bible study.
• Ask God for a deeper revelation of the Blessing(s)
  Incorporate 53 Blessings as part of your Christian Education Curriculum for all the children as well as the adults.
• Share the 53 Blessings with your sick and shut-in, incarcerated, homeless ministries etc. Open your study session with a truth or Blessing, reference the scripture and then share-reflect on God’s plan for us as believers.
• Hey don’t stop there, share this insightful tool with others, especially new believers. “New Members Class, Converts Class, Sheep Fold Ministries whatever your title is, just confidently know that this compilation of Blessing can spiritually enrich others. This knowledge would help to dispel so many of the misnomers that confuse and bewilders us. I am confident that the Holy Spirit desires that we are to be reassured that the moment we embraced the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we have a bouquet of sweet blessings.
• Open your praise and worship session with one of the 53 Blessing, celebrate God and sing Be Be Winans “I Believe”. This is an awesome, uplifting song!
• Create a mural, quilt or collage with your youth groups incorporating the 53 Blessings and be sure to hang it proudly for the edification and building up the body of Christ!

I pray you’ll be further inspired to add to the list of the blessings and begin to savor each of the 53 Blessings that Brother Doege has laid out, ranging from our having access to God’s grace to we’ve got the power of a sound mind. Enjoy your many blessings friend, it’s in your reach!!

Joyfully Submitted by:

Linda Mose Meadows, author

The Blessedness of Believing A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises

http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/

Obadiah: A Prophecy Relevant for Today

Scholars and theologians do not agree on which Obadiah penned the prophecy recorded in the book of Obadiah; however, the significance is that the historical markers in the account provide evidence that the prophet lived and represented God during time periods that are detailed in other historical accounts. While we do not know which Obadiah wrote the prophecy we know that it came from God and that this is an accurate account.

The meaning of Obadiah is Servant of Yahweh or Worshipper of Yahweh. Obadiah was able to speak for God because he was submitted to God. It is required of those speaking for God to be servants or worshippers of God first. One with a true understanding of who God is will worship and serve Him willingly and consistently. Moreover, the one with a true revelation of who God is will seek to bring others into the same revelation that they may have relationship with God as well.

It behooves us to know and understand the biblical mandate of leaders when we assess leaders in our lives. Today, people too easily and quickly choose leaders based on feelings, popularity, attractiveness, speaking or singing ability…we should discern the person’s dedication to worship and serve God. When we seek pleasure and entertainment from our spiritual leaders we become dull and unable or unwilling to receive spiritual correction, prophecy, and warning that is necessary for our spiritual growth and maturity. Unfortunately, people forget that false prophets will be punished but so will those who follow false prophets.

Obadiah 1:1 We have heard a message from the Lord that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say, "Get ready, everyone! Let's assemble our armies and attack Edom!"
Obadiah’s prophecy does not deal with Israel or Judah. Edom or the Edomites are the descendents of Esau. Israel, formerly known as Jacob and Esau are brothers. Esau traded his birthright or blessing for stew, he let go of his spiritual blessing to meet a fleshly need.

Note: When Israel came out of Egypt and wanted to pass through the land of the Edomites to enter into the Promised Land, the Edomites wouldn’t let them (Numbers 20:14-21)
2 The Lord says, "I will cut you down to size among the nations, Edom; you will be small and despised. 3 You are proud because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. `Who can ever reach us way up here?' you ask boastfully. Don't fool yourselves! 4 Though you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you crashing down. I, the Lord, have spoken!

Obadiah’s prophesy reveals God is not pleased with the pride of Edom. Edom was a small nation and poor in comparison to others, they prided themselves in dwelling in the clefts of mountains. It does not take riches to create pride. There are people who take satisfaction in living hard, poor, or rough.

Consider the people today who think it a badge of honor to keep it real and live ghetto. It is infuriating that these small-minded and selfish people imagine this is what it means to be ‘real Black people’. Sadly, not only are Blacks perpetuating this myth but now other ethnic groups are doing the same for profit.

God is not pleased. Black people and indeed all people dedicated to serving and worshipping God lead lives that praise and worship God. While we may have cultural practices or traditions none of these takes precedence over living by the precepts and truth of God. Holiness knows no colors or class.

*Many scriptures confirm that God detests and rejects pride.

These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19


The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 8:13

Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Pride causes us to become self-important, to believe we are essential to the operations of the living and the outcome of events. We cannot fully praise God when our heart is prideful because our focus is self. Pride is dangerous indeed pride is deadly.

5 "If thieves came at night and robbed you, they would not take everything. Those who harvest grapes always leave a few for the poor. But your enemies will wipe you out completely! 6 Every nook and cranny of Edom will be searched and looted. Every treasure will be found and taken.

God will not let anything be left in Edom. There will be no reason for them to be prideful. There will be no doubt that the devastation and destruction did not come by the hands of man.

There are times when our stiff-necked, arrogance will not allow us to listen or learn from anyone or anything and God must strip us down to nothing. Often people must hit rock bottom or go to the school of hard knocks before they learn to listen and obey. Some people never learn, these people lose everything including their eternal salvation.

7 "All your allies will turn against you. They will help to chase you from your land. They will promise you peace, while plotting your destruction. Your trusted friends will set traps for you, and you won't even know about it. 8 At that time not a single wise person will be left in the whole land of Edom!" says the Lord. "For on the mountains of Edom I will destroy everyone who has wisdom and understanding. 9 The mightiest warriors of Teman will be terrified, and everyone on the mountains of Edom will be cut down in the slaughter.

The Edomites boasted in their wisdom. The men of Edom - especially of the city Teman - were noted for their wisdom. The phrase men of the East in the Old Testament often refers to men from Edom, and passages like 1 Kings 4:30 declare the great wisdom of the men of the East. As well, Jeremiah 49:7 says of Edom: Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? This was another source of pride for the Edomites.

Again, we must look at the condition of our community. How many of our young people are injured or killed by their own so-called friends or associates? These young people have taken pride in living the hard-life. In their confusion they arrogantly believe no one can reach them emotionally or physically. Yet, statistics show these young people are victims of themselves as they steal from one another, shoot and injure one another, and then turn on each other after supposedly reconciling and promising peace.

Often peace is promised or sealed over drinks and drugs. The bond of peace is soon broken and the very ones who supposedly were friends are now pursuing each other violently. Sadly, this violence spills over into the families and communities and leaves no one untouched. Yet, similar behavior is found in the church.

Our weapons and tactics may differ. However, we experience pride that causes us to fail to live according the example and expectation of Christ. Often we can find the most prideful people in the poorest ministries. In fact, some congregations take pride in never having any people, any purpose, or any plan for the future. These congregations are Edomites, they have traded their spiritual purpose to satisfy their fleshly pleasure.

Now they resent any congregation or ministry that seeks to grow in service to God. Moreover, these Edomites will seek to disrupt or weaken the worship of congregations and ministries dedicated to God. Just like the Edom of the scripture or people in the community, these ministry Edomites will declare peace while determining to destroy ministry endeavors.

Are you an Edomite?

FOX Lies!! The real sermon given by Pastor Wright

Vera Richardson is the author of “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined."
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ISBN=9780615177014

Blessed and Returning Home

I will bless you richly. I will multiply your descendants into countless millions, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. They will conquer their enemies, and through your descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed-all because you have obeyed me."
Genesis 22:17, 18

This was a real hoot to me, when I reflected on how hungry I was. My lunch really hit the spot! Yesterday’s lunch has actually been a really tasty Sunday dinner of Barbequed turkey necks, a broccoli and cheese rice, green beans and a piece of my husband’s sumptuous pound cake, yep I ate it interchangeably at dinner. So there I sat at my desk, in quite, feeling refreshed from a great walk and now enjoying a great meal of leftovers for lunch. All of it wasn’t there, but the little that was there satisfied my hungry palette. And then I began to chuckle as I thought about Grand Mama Rita and her big pots. I was glad not a soul was present, but I sure would have enjoyed reminiscing about my grandmother with my brothers.

I remember many wonderful pound cakes, she called them rabbit cakes, I am not sure why. Maybe it was a Easter cake recipe that she perfected. Yes indeed, she made the best fried chicken-she had that down to a science with the right amount of seasonings and salt. I know for a fact if she said, “I have a pot on,” that was hands off for us. We’d rather go home and enjoy roast, baked chicken or Saturday’s Chili, my father’s specialty. But definitely no oversized pot with neck bones and potatoes, turkey necks and gravy and beans and I don’t know what else? But the laughs on me- here I was at my “University JOB” and partaking in turkey neck bones. Oh my grandmother is rolling with laughter in the heavens. As Abraham says in Genesis 22:5 “...We will come right back!”

So here it is friends, this must be the message that the Holy Spirit is sharing with us today, that when you least expect it-you’ll repeat some tradition, some favorite dish, some ritual, something that connects you to your ancestors. There are many sacred rituals that have been ingrained in us, in our youth we may have shunned them, denounced them and turned up our nose at them, or simply taken them for granted- but I am a witness that you will gladly embrace them in your latter years. Because it really is who we are and apart of our good DNA!! My husband announced as we ate several turkey necks during out Sunday dinner, “See you had no idea what you were missing out as a child!” I nodded in agreement.

How I would love to be able to walk in my grandmother’s apartment one more time, and she invite me to the table and instead of saying, “No thank you Grand Mama!” I’d say, “Yes, Grand Mama I knew I was right on time!”

I thank God for my grandmother’s love and tolerance, I am grateful that by example she demonstrated how we could take a meager item, and create a feast that would nourish our bodies and delight our hearts.

Friends, as I read the New Living Translation today, I was so appreciative of how Abraham spoke life over his son, trusted God and as a result was richly blessed. I’d prefer to think my satisfying lunch was a byproduct and symbolic of the love-of my Grandmother’s love. She knew, and I suspect patiently awaited the day when I’d return home and be reacquainted with what would sustain me in my adult life.

"If you listen to these regulations and obey them faithfully, the Lord your God will keep his covenant of unfailing love with you, as he solemnly promised your ancestors.
Deut 7:12

Maybe our descendants will fondly recall our sacrifices and obedience to God as they return home by practicing and partaking some remembered ritual of love!!!

"This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your beloved son, I swear by my own self that I will bless you richly. I will multiply your descendants into countless millions, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. They will conquer their enemies, and through your descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed-all because you have obeyed me." Then they returned to Abraham's young men and traveled home again to Beersheba, where Abraham lived for quite some time.

Genesis 22:16-20 (NIV)

Have a great day my friends!

Joyfully submitted by:
Linda Mose Meadows, Author
The Blessedness of Believing
A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises

Enjoy other writings, click on Blessed Chronicles
http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/

Can We Know For Sure?

Can we know for sure that God exists? And that Jesus is his Son, and that he died for our sins and rose again. And can we know for sure that if we believe in him, we will spend eternity in heaven with him? Can we know for sure, or is our understanding of God’s existence and our eternal destiny dependant on a “hope and a prayer?” Is there any way we can know the truth for sure?

Well, we can know, but there is only one person that can reveal the truth to us and that is God himself. That may sound a bit funny. How can God prove it to us if we don’t even know for sure that he exists? Think about it for a minute; if God exists, who else could reveal the truth about his existence to us? I know that I can’t prove it to you. And neither can anyone else. Because God cannot be seen or touched or measured in the natural, if he does exist, he really is the only one who can prove his existence. And if Jesus really is God’s Son and the savior of the world, it is only God that can prove that. And yet it will take a step of faith on our part to go to him and ask, whether we believe in him or not.

You see, God protects our free will. He leaves knowing truth up to us. If we open our heart and take a step of faith toward him, he will be able to reveal himself and reveal truth to us and then we will know. But if we don’t really want to know, we don’t have to.

It is good to note here that spiritual things can only be known through our heart, not our head. Our heads comprehend natural things, not spiritual. Our hearts are the spiritual part of us and can comprehend God and spiritual things. That is why you may hear Christians say that we must “receive Jesus into our heart” to come to know him.

You still might say to me. But how do you know this for sure? I can say this because I have accepted Jesus into my heart and I know. But I am not so presumptuous as to say that I can prove anything to you. I can only tell you what I have come to know, and then point the way to you. The rest is up to you.

What I have learned is that when we open our heart to receive Jesus, we open the door for him to reveal himself to us. If we don’t open up our heart to receive him, we keep the spiritual part of us closed, and no spiritual light will ever get in. We will only know natural things. We can try all we want to figure these things out in our own mind, but it will be to no avail. Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, (that is, accept Jesus into our heart) he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (Jn. 3:3, parenthesis mine) What Jesus is saying is that unless we accept him into our heart we won’t even recognize the existence of God or of his kingdom or of the reality of his Son. We just won’t “see” it or come to “know” of their existence. We’ll just continue to be guessing.

When I invited Jesus into my heart, I didn’t know that he was the Son of God. I knew from history that he walked the earth and was a real person and made great claims of himself. But I didn’t really know if he was who he said he was; and I certainly didn’t know if he rose from the dead. But I wanted to know. So I simply said something like this. Jesus, if you are real, come into my heart and life. I open up my heart and invite you in… But if you are real, you are going to have to prove it to me yourself. And then, pragmatic as I am, I simply began to read about his life in the Gospel of St. John. John is my namesake so I thought that might be as good a place to start as any and as it turned out, it was. What I found out, (and this is vital) was that reading about him was a real key in his revealing himself to me. You’ve got to “feed the seed” or it won’t grow. Well, I had read parts of the bible before, both in the Old and the New Testament, but never before had I invited Jesus in my heart before doing so. And I was amazed at what I began to “see” and to know. It was almost hard to believe. Yet I knew I was beginning to realize something I had never known before, and along with that, that a real change was occurring inside of me. I had tried changing things in my life many times before but this was a real intrinsic change, a transformation I had never experienced before. It was not just a behavioral change using my own will power. The best way I can describe all this is that I was becoming new and fresh and really changed on the inside, and that the bible’s words and the reality of Christ as a living person began to become “real” to me. Things he said began to come alive and take on new meaning. It was amazing.

All I can say is that within about a month’s time I “knew” that Jesus was real and that he was in my life. I was sure for myself for the first time. Nobody had shown me, and I didn’t figure it out myself, and yet I knew he was real and I had been changed; like never before. It wasn't until later I learned that it was God himself who revealed himself to me and changed me because I had opened my heart for him to do so.

Well, you say, that was good for you. Yes, it was. And if you haven't already done so, it can be good for you too. But like I said, I can’t prove any of this to you. I can only describe to you “my” experience and tell you how to experience the reality of Jesus for yourself. The rest is up to you. There is no one who can do this for you, and there is no one else who can reveal the truth to you. Yet, if you do this you will find that there is nothing in the world as good. Now, I didn’t say there is nothing as easy. I said there is nothing as good. And it would just be a beginning. It is not a one time thing; it is a lifetime thing, and it is a development of a relationship.

It has been about 35 years since I invited Jesus into my heart, and though times of doubt came in the early years, as I continued to keep my heart open and search his word, and to ask God to know more, he became more and more real to me and he has been able to continually enhance my life more and more right up to this day. The wonderful thing about all of this is that I know this for “myself” and that no one can take it from me. There may be many of you reading this that know exactly what I mean and that it is the most wonderful thing in the world.

So, measure the cost before you invite Jesus to come into your life because it will be new and life changing; and as wonderful as it is, like anything else that is worth anything, may be very difficult at times... but also measure the possible cost if you don’t invite Jesus into your life.

Jesus said, “…what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mk. 8:36) Our eternal soul is so valuable that a price cannot be put on it. In fact, there is nothing as valuble.

I know from personal experience that Jesus loves all of us, wants to reveal himself to us and will give us a healthy and prosperous life beyond anything we can imagine; both here and hereafter, but it is up to each individual to find that out for themselves. And that will be between them and God because only God can prove himself to us for sure.

Yet think of it… Knowing; finally knowing for sure! Whew!

Submitted by John B. Agati
Author of : “Suffering (God’s Will?)”

More information about this and an upcoming book “Suffering, Unanswered Prayer, (And How to Fix the Whole Thing),” along with a short bio may be found at: www. jbagati.com

An Open Letter to Bishop James David Manning

Bishop James David Manning in his space and his own words...

The Great Palace of Worship

Mission Statement:


Almighty God has called and destined Pastor James David Manning to stand on this magnificent stage to reach the leaders of this world. This palace with its ornate beauty, splendor, and presence of God will attract leaders in the field of ministry, politics, education, and worship to seek a Word from the Lord. The Great Palace of Worship inspired by the power of Almighty God working through the teachings of Pastor James David Manning, will be the platform used to preach the healing and cleansing power in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to the nations of the world.



An Open Letter to Bishop James David Manning


Brother Manning:


I write out of concern about the many viral, poisonous, and provocative videos posted on your website as well as youtube.com. After prayerfully reviewing the clips sent to me by others, I reviewed the website maintained by your organization and was disturbed by the level of toxicity and venom from which few are spared. What I did notice lacking was any biblical basis for your vicious videos.

For example, the attack on Bishop TD Jakes and other men who dance in the Holy Spirit misrepresents the presence and power of the Holy Ghost. Your position is that there is no basis for men to dance in such a way; however, we lack visual documentation of ancient praise and worship services and fellowships so this is your personal determination which lacks biblical support.

• 2 Samuel 6 - David leaped and danced with such joy until he came out of his clothes. King David was a man who praised God without pretense and God rewarded King David for his unabashed love and public displays of joy in the Lord.

Multiple presentations deride Senator Barack Obama and personally attack him. This sir is a breach of Christian conduct. Jesus provides us with barometers to examine our attitudes, behaviors, and conversations to determine if we are abiding with Him or aiding and abetting the enemy. The simplest of these is found 1 John 3:14 - We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.

You must understand sir, that irregardless of how any Christian feels about Barack Obama...to attack his parentage or any other personal trait without basis is a reflection of our spiritual immaturity. Barack Obama has confessed the Lord Jesus Christ as his LORD and Savior and none of us is able to judge him as anything less than a servant of Christ.

NOTE: Jesus Christ selected the twelve disciples and prior to Judas revealing himself as the ultimate betrayer he was known as a thief - yet there is no biblical indication that Jesus nor the other disciples disparaed the man, his mother, or his motive in other matters in such a vicious and vile manner as you have done to Senator Obama. (John 12:4-6).

I am in no means insinuating or implying that Senator Obama lacks integrity; however, I am sharing this scripture to demonstrate that even when a believer is wrong there is a way to correct without castigating.

Ignorance is not bliss. Arrogance is in opposition with love and grace. Ignorance and arrogance are a dangerous combination; when these evil elements are mixed and vehemently spewed from behind a pulpit they become toxic seeds that breed dissension, distrust, and deep rooted poison veiled as prophetic preaching.

The Bible teaches to avoid the imbecelic rantings that mark the immature Christian and miniature intellectuctual. However, there is a time when we must stand and rebuke those who transgress so that others will not follow the moronic message. This is especially true when the one engaging in this viral lunacy misrepresents himself as minister of the Christian gospel.After reviewing the video clips, studying the Word, and praying...I am fully persuaded now is the time to present this corrective communication.

I publicly present this letter because you have engaged in a public tirade disguised as preaching and teaching. Sadly, I must disavow the videos provide any beneficial content or exposition. Indeed, it appears to be a most selfish indulgence of personal pettiness and public attention-seeking veiled with the pageantry and venacular of religious tradition. Sadly, many look at these clips and fault Christ and the Body of Christ - if I must - I shall be the voice of reason seeking to restore you and reconcile you, if that if your desire.

Work hard so God can approve you. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid godless, foolish discussions that lead to more and more ungodliness. 2 Timothy 2:15 - 16

1. dereliction of duty - the key responsibility of one called to preach is teach and preach the uncompromised gospel to the glory of God and edification of the people of God. Preaching is a privilege and responsibility that requires prayerful and purposeful interaction with God. Preachers must sacrifice preferences and prejudices to immerse themselves in the Word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal unto them the will of God. Your attacks on Obama have not been supported by scripture and do not reveal the love of Christ of fruit of the Holy Spirit.
2. distracton of the Body of Christ - the Body of Christ is called to work to fulfill the will of God. Review Ephesians 4:17-32, and pray for the Holy Spirit to teach you and give you and understanding of this passage. Be especially mindful of Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. When you speak those things which do not glorify God or edify the people of God you do the Body a disservice. Time spent carrying out the Great Commission now must be spent clarifying the confusion and chaos you have presented. Before you engage in mental masturbation from the pulpit to satisfy your own need for attention ask yourself how you strayed so far from the ministry of Christ...so far from the will and love of God? No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12; If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 1 John 4:20
3. and sowing discord among the brethren - this is one of the seven listed things which the Lord hates, review Proverbs 6:16-19. God created us in His image, we ought to bear some resembalance and carry some traits of our Father in heaven. In days like these we need to come together not to cause division - see Hebrews 10:23-25. Now is the time to provoke one another to good works.

Mr. Manning, it is my prayer that you receive this communication in the concern and Christian love in which it is written. I understand that ministers have a heart to see the people turn to God - redemption and salvation in Jesus Christ is essentially and eternally important. However, the message of ministers must be that God is pure and righteous; otherwise, we are not preachers of the gospel but pundits or gossips.

My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father-that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. John 17:21

Let us be about the ministry of reconciliation and equipping the believers to do the work of the church. As leaders we should lead the way in living according to the Word of God. As preachers we have a higher calling...let us live so God can use us and people can follow us as we follow Christ.

Moreover, preachers will be held accountable for misleading the sheep of God's pasture if we fail to feed them adequately or lead them appropriately.

Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Jeremiah 23:1

Like all believers we will give an account for what we say.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:36

Be careful not to be given to or overtaken by The Spirit Of Diotrephes.

How can you, Brother Manning and others identify this spirit?

• Those overtaken by this spirit engage in malicious gossip
• Overzealous and self-appointed leaders castigate those believers with whom they differ?
• The insatiable desire for preeminence that prompts leaders to reject biblical teachings concerning brotherly relations and to engage in malicious gossip, salacious attacks, and attention-seeking public escapades

Brother Manning there are many other confirmations that the spirit of Diotrephes is working through you...I have observed these three. However, the Holy Spirit is greater and you can yet be delivered by repenting in the name of Jesus Christ.

There is no need to respond to me, Mr. Manning. My prayer is that you examine yourself and line yourself up with the Word of God asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what you should do restore yourself. I shall be in prayer for you, as I am for all believers. We are all one Body and we are only whole when each part is whole. May the power of the Holy Spirit rest, rule, and revive you.

Respectfully,

Pastor Kelly Oglesby

Peace and power are in Jesus Christ alone!

"Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You don't pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. A healthy tree produces good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced. Matthew 7:15-20 NLT

Rev. Wright, Race Relations, and The 2008 Election

I am not surprised that Senator Obama’s relationship with Rev. Wright is sitll an issue in the current news cycle. The story about Wright and the tapes have been available for months yet they became a political liability and hot story only after Hillary Clinton’s super delegate Governor Spitzer’s secret sexual and possible criminal lifestyle was exposed.

In the political world the group or party that is in power will do anything to remain in power. Is it a coincidence that the videos tapes of Rev. Wright’s sermons were released during the Eliot Spitzer’s sex scandal? Obama’s pastor views and statement not Obama’s views or words have ended the news that included daily reminders and comparisons of President Bill Clinton’s sexual involvement with an intern. Monica Lewinsky was 22 years old during her affair with President Clinton, which is the same age as Eliot Spitzer’s hooker or the political correct term Spitzer’s high paid call girl.

I don’t know Rev. Wright or his personal struggles with racism in America. It is my belief that Rev. Wright recent televised statements are his own personal views and experiences on race relations and/or racial inequality in America. I do know that discrimination and retaliation has left a hole in my heart, mind, and body. I am a black female and I experienced discrimination while employed by New York Department of Corrections.

In January 1996 black officers employed at Albion Correctional Facility called the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Orleans County. The president of the local chapter of the NACCP agreed to meet with the officers to discuss discrimination at Albion CF. At the officers request the January 1996, meeting was held secretly at a local church in Orleans County.

In an effort to disguise the true nature of our group and because of the fear of retaliation by Albion supervisors we called ourselves “the Focus Group.” (Yes in the State of New York in 1996 Blacks were afraid for their financial lives). I must admit that I want Spitzer exposure to remain in the news. His character flaws include the way that his Attorney General Office handled my discrimination lawsuit and his failure to make me whole in his role as Governor of New York.

Governor Spitzer was the New York State Attorney General when a member of his staff Mike Russo, Assistant New York State Attorney General, willfully filed seven perjured declarations and affirmations in the United States District Court of Western New York. Spitzer’s staff successfully had my discrimination case dismissed. I believe that by filing the perjured declarations New York State Attorney General’s Office also victimized me.

In the introduction to my book “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined” I stated, “A strong racial divide currently exists in this country. Many white people believe that black people unfairly play the race card. On the other hand racism for many blacks in America is real and very painful.”

Racism continues to be real and very scary to me. I didn’t want any of my family and friends to suffer the way that I have suffered. Therefore, I didn’t write their last names in the acknowledgement section of my book. I didn’t want any of my family and friends to experience the retaliation that wrecked my life.

Senator Obama as a candidate for the Presidency has given me and countless other voters “hope.” We now believe that as a united nation that we can address an issue as painful as racism. It is time for this entire country to have a meaningful discussion on institutional racism both past and present. As a nation we can and must rise above the discriminatory and racist reality of our past and current environment.

On September 11, 2001, I watched in horror as this country was attacked. I could not believe that we were at war. I cried like a baby as I held my eight-month old grand son in my arms. I cried for my country and the innocent victims and their families.

We came together as a caring and God loving country after September 11, 2001. I believe that with Obama as President we can experience the pride and unity of post 9/11. Oh yes we can come together again as The “United” States of America.

On March 15, 2008, Obama addressed the Rev. Wright issue during a town hall meeting in Indiana. In my view he did an outstanding job. It is so ironic that Senator Obama has gone from being an alleged “Muslin” to now having to denounce and reject a Christian minister that everyone now admits that Obama has shared a twenty-year Christian relationship. I see the hands of God at work in this instance (Romans 8).

Obama’s March 18, 2008, speech on race made me teary eyed. Senator Obama’s personality, charm, intelligence, and willingness to comprise are great traits that he will use to united and inspire all of us to greatness.

All of Senator Obama’s supporters must pray, trust God, and hold on because it is going to get worst before Obama becomes the next President of the United States of America.

Vera Richardson is the author of “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?r=1&EAN=9780615177014

SOMEBODY TELL MSM AND HILLARY…”GOD DON’T LIKE UGLY”

It says lot when ordinary people with extraordinarily different faiths, races, backgrounds and no hidden agenda can come together and speak the TRUTH despite mainstream media’s caustically allergic reaction to Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama’s friend, mentor and retired Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright. These courageous folks wrote an open letter http://chuckcurrie.blogs.com/chuck_currie/2008/03/diverse-group-o.html to Sen. Hillary Clinton on March 25, 2008 that you will never hear discussed on MSM. Also, Sen. Clinton’s former Pastor Dean J. Snyder wrote another supporting Rev. Wright on March 19, 2008 http://www.foundryumc.org/pdfs/Statement%20concerning%20Rev.%20Jeremiah%20Wright.pdf

Check out this video clip of recent defunct Christian Conservative Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee defending Sen. Barack Obama and his retired Rev. Jeremiah Wright against too obviously MSM haters. Funny thing though Mike Huckabee referred to Rev. Wright as “Louis Wright.” Huckabee was an active Baptist preacher for over 12 years before he dived into politics. Also, he flat out refused to let any of his previous sermons be released to the MSM while he was on the campaign trail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNwMPNxwHmQ

Furthermore, Rev. Wright and other prominent religious leaders were invited to the White House by the Clintons to pray for Pres. Clinton because he had recently sinned by lying to America and cheating on Hillary in the White House with Miss Monica Lewinsky. Rev. Wright’s personal invitation to the White House can be viewed @ http://truthabouttrinity.blogspot.com/

Sen. Clinton conveniently kept quiet about Rev. Wright. She was even more vague on Sen. Obama’s speech…“A More Perfect Union”… http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/political/story.aspx?content_id=626f1248-1562-44fa-b483-9df9ee77b63e Hillary now speaks out against Rev. Wright and goes into full “GERALINE FERRARO LET ME GO” mode because she is catching more than HELL for lying about her role in Bosnia, not releasing her tax returns, supporting NAFTA and her continuous steadfast refusal to release the Clinton Presidential Library and Foundation donor list. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_558930.html

Count on MSM (CNN, FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS and MSNBC) anti-Rev. Wright vigilantism bias to focus solely on increasing their corporate profits at ALL (AMERICA LOVES LIARS) costs. These rabid anti-religion demigods…oh I mean highly ethical and never ever racially divisive major television networks will CONTINUE to air only racially inflammatory sound bites of Rev. Wright’s sermons. They remind me of the nobodies who became somebody during the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Ask yourself did you know Nancy Grace, Marcia Clark, Mark Fuhrman, Philip Vannatter or Christopher Darden before 1994? These people all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Mr. Simpson’s horrific ordeal because they are enjoying the good life because of their racial polarizing commando style of journalism that is still going on today. This is not the TWILIGHT ZONE…no one controls your TV but you. Do thorough research before you VOTE and don’t forget to PRAY. Thank you Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright for being a “good and faithful servant” and inspiring all Americans (SAVED or NOT) to have the discussion on RACE IN AMERICA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqPUXjFYh38 This is the link to 9 minutes of one of Rev. Wrights' sermon currently be used by Fox in an effort to end Obama's race to the White House. The video is titled "Fox Lies The Real Sermon given by Pastor Wright."
Vera Richardson is the author of “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined." http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?r=1&EAN=9780615177014http://www.lulu.com/content/1362173

A Marvelous Love

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.”
John 3:16, 17 NIV

There I stood wide eyed on an Easter Morning marveling at the beautifully tailored green coat dress my mother had created with her very own hands. Her limited budget and lack of sewing machine did not thwart her plans, nor limit her marvelous gift to me. My hopes weren’t dashed; my mother had exceeded my expectations. On Sunday morning I awoke to the site of seeing an ensemble that was created with me in mind. There on the hanger hung my Easter dress and on this occasion I didn’t have to make due. That childhood memory, so many years ago is still very clear in my mind! But it was my mother’s constant and active displays that nurtured me and my brothers. There were many days of home baked cookies, sewn tote-shoe bags with creative stitching, construction paper made into vocabulary and math flash cards, encouraging words and her being an unselfish person—it’s all of those tokens of a marvelous love that have been instilled in me and carry me through my life and still give me this incredible and memorable gift as we approach Resurrection Sunday!

Our Heavenly Father is surely the exemplary loving parent! Have you experienced it?

Friends, you know well the Easter themes, the melodic hymns of Zion, eloquent sermonic messages spoken in The Seven Last Words on Good Friday and lest we not forget the baked ham, Easter lilies, colorful outfits and baskets running over with fruity jelly beans, chocolate bunnies and crosses. This too is a real part of many Easters across the nation. But more importantly the ultimate gift given us- yes, our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! A marvelous gift that allows me and you to confidently lean on the promises of God with an expectant hope!

So during this Passion Week we can confidently embrace the truth-that there’s no greater gift that we can have than the love of God. God I am sure is counting on us to let His love be the focus and main ingredient in our Easter festivities. With that thought let me encourage you to remember your birth rights as children of the most High God and carry in your hearts and conversations the spirit of an expected good to permeate your life and the lives of others. Just like me as a child on Easter morning-know without a doubt that something wonderful and good awaits you no matter our perceived limitations and the negative nay sayers!

No my friends, I agree it’s not about the clothes; it’s about the marvelous sacrificial love of a parent. What my mother and possibly many of your parents have done on countless occasions is model love, a love that revives and lifts us! My mother’s behavior exemplified what was merely a reflection of the love that Christ has for us.

Just trust in him!

"There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God. Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants."
John 3: 18-21 (NIV)

Go ahead and boldly embrace a spirit of great expectancy; no matter the days that are filled with some mighty highs and agonizing lows. It’s the anticipation of something wonderful to come; the Lamb of God actively visible in the outcomes of our lives! Yes He was struck down, but no hell could contain Him. It’s the celebration and resurrection of a new day, a new hope, a new truth, a new glory and a new and real determination that our Christ is alive. So in essence our personal ruts and predictable behavior can always be blood washed and refreshed because it’s a marvelous love that saves us! Keep singing, keep hoping and keep on loving in the name of Jesus!

Have a blessed Easter! Amen!

Joyfully submitted by Linda Mose Meadows

Author of: The Blessedness of Believing

A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises

http://www.blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/

Who do we think we are?

I would like to continue my thoughts on what it means to be “born again,” and on the change that resulted in our lives when we accepted Jesus as our savior.

The bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new, and all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ….” (2 Cor. 5:17-18)

Simply put, this is talking about a spiritual change that occurs in our “spiritual man” when we accept Jesus as our savior. All of the old is passed away; that is, the old sinful inner person that we were and all the works of that sinful person are gone, passed away… and all things are now become new and holy and Christ-like… all things are of God.

As I said in an earlier article, this change is an inner change and in order to get this inner change from the inside to the outside, we must begin to believe that this change is really so. That is, we need to believe that we are no longer the sinner we used to be but are now saints of God, having God’s very nature and made in his image. (This is called “living by faith;” or “walking in the spirit.” It is putting faith in what Jesus has done for us spiritually.) Paul teaches that this alone will bring the “outer” transformation we need to truly live a Christ-like life. (Rom. 7:18-19; 12:1-2)

It is good to note here that sinners are not sinners because they sin, and saints are not saints because they don’t sin. All human beings sin. Sinners are sinners because they have not accepted Jesus as savior and have not taken on the new nature that comes from being born again. They still have the nature of sin which all men inherited from Adam. (Rom. 5:12) Saints, on the other hand are saints because they have accepted Jesus as savior, and now have a new nature, the nature of Christ within them. This is the “new creature” that Paul talks about and is not based on what we do but on what we believe.

What I would like to do for a few moments is to look at this new nature, this “new creature” that we have been made, and see what we are really like on the inside after we have received Jesus as our savior. This will make all the difference in the world, because if we know how God has changed us and choose to believe that that is the way we are, it will affect the way we live… “For as he (a man) thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Pr.23:7 parenthesis mine)

The question is, “who do we think we are?”

If Christians think that they are sinners, if they think they are weak, if they think that they are afraid, sick, poor, problem filled or anything else un-Christ-like, that is the way they will be. But if we think that we are the righteousness of God, if we believe we are saints, if we believe we are strong, wise, free and Christ-like, “that” is the way we will be.

Even natural psychology understands this principle and the power of how we think about ourselves. They know that just thinking positively affects the way we feel and the way we act. The difference is, they are dealing with natural power and though profitable will gain only natural affects, and those affects will be limited. But when we put our faith in God’s word and in the change the word has produced within us, we will have the supernatural power of God’s word at our fingertips. And the word of God always has the power to bring itself to pass when believed in. (Isa. 55:11) That is how the “impossible” comes to pass.

So, let’s look at what the bible says about us as “born again” Christians. It says this… “as he is (talking about Jesus) so are we in this world." (1 Jn. 4:17 parenthesis mine) The bible says that we are just like Jesus is, only in this world. Now that is so big, it is hard to comprehend; and that is because there is no end to who the Lord is and what he is like, and yet the amazing thing is, we are just like he is! However, to keep this simple and practical, I’d like to first take a look at what Jesus was like when “he” was in this world. This will begin to give us an indication of what “we” are like in this world.

First of all, (at least in my mind), what I noticed about Jesus was that before he allowed evil men to take his life; there was no one, nor anything that could harm him. Though he was constantly under pressure of attacks of the devil and of evil men, Jesus had complete and total protection. No one and no thing could lay a finger on him. And then going beyond that, before Jesus allowed evil men to take his life, he was always healthy, and always whole; spirit, soul and body. He had all wisdom, compassion, love, patience and understanding. He had no need go unmet and was always in God’s perfect will. He had the correct answer for every problem that faced him and went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil. He not only resisted evil successfully in his own life, but overturned it wherever he went. He had no faults, was perfect and righteous in all his ways, and never fell to any temptation of sin. All in all, he was just like God. And “we” are just like he is! Wow!

But wait; if that seems a lot to believe about ourselves, the bible stretches our thinking and our faith even more. The truth is; now that Jesus is in heaven, (after having spoiled principalities and powers) he holds a greater position than when he was on the earth. He now says, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Mt. 28:18) Wow again! Listen to what Paul prays for and wants us to realize: (A little long here but well worth it!)

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet…” (Eph. 1:18-22 NIV)

As Christians, we actually have the same power residing within us that raised Jesus from the dead! And we are seated with Christ in a place of authority over evil. (Eph. 2:6) Can you believe this about yourself? Yes you can! Because it is true, and Paul prays that we realize that. How else would we be able to do what Jesus said we’d do; (and that is, that we would do the same works “he” did and even greater), unless we were like him and seated with him? (Jn 14:12)

Imagine now what would occur if we ALL started believing this about ourselves. What would happen is that we would become just like that which we believe. Over the course of time, all of us, within our own calling and sphere of influence would be going about doing good, healing those oppressed by the devil, and destroying the works of evil everywhere in the wisdom and power of Jesus himself. Whew!

Too far fetched …? Listen to another scripture from Ephesians:

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (Eph. 4: 11-13)

We are ALL, (as individuals and as a whole) supposed to come unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. And it will only come when in unity we believe what the bible says about us. It will never come by trying harder.

So, let’s unite by believing God’s word together. Let us allow God’s word to rule and overrule our own thinking. Even if it is hard to believe or it doesn’t seem that it is so or could be possible, let’s… “Trust in the Lord with all our heart; and lean not unto our own understanding. In all our ways acknowledge him, (and what he says) and he shall direct our paths.” (Pr. 3:5 parenthesis and paraphrase mine)

When we comply with the New Testament by believing what it says about us, in time, we will be transformed and we will be able to do and say the same as Jesus when he said,

“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Lk. 4:18-19)

It is just a matter of who we think we are.

Posted by John B. Agati
Author of : “Suffering, (God’s Will?)”

More information about this and an upcoming book “Suffering, Unanswered Prayer, (And How to Fix the Whole Thing),” along with a short bio may be found at: www. jbagati.com

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death. 1 John 3:14

Who are you to condemn God's servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him tell them whether they are right or wrong. The Lord's power will help them do as they should. Romans 14:4 NLT

They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, ".... But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!" John 8:7 NLT

As a pastor of the Christian gospel and a black woman, I feel uniquely qualified to offer a perspective on the current conversation. Particularly, since I have purchased and listened to tapes of Pastor Wright at length and repeatedly as well as read some of the church publications. Indeed at one point in time my husband, who is also an ordained minister and pastor considered joining the denomination.
Pastor Wright is an experienced and learned man of the gospel and the world. Jesus never calls anyone to serve for their perfection but for their willingness to humbly serve. Pastor Wright has demonstrated he mourns for the "least of these" in sermon and service. The call of a pastor is not make the world more comfortable.
Pastors, all pastors chosen of God, are called to persuade, compel, and cause humanity to recognize their preferences may indeed be prejudices when aligned with the principles of God. Moreover, pastors must awaken their generation from apathy and contentment that they might pursue purposes greater than their present need and beyond their personal greed.
Lastly, in America there is a historical and contemporary issue of race that permeates the culture which includes the religious life. Christians do not measure their relationship with God on religious traditions, trends, or talk but on the truth of the word of God. We recognize that the vessels chosen by God bring their experiences and emotions with them; pastors are working out their own salvation as they are leading us in the God-given vision. We can accept a pastor who is not 100% of what we believe because our faith is in Jesus Christ and Christianity is based on a deep and abiding personal relationship with the Lord. Barack Obama cannot leave his church-home or pastor until God directs him to do so.
For all we know God has Senator Obama there to show Pastor Wright a more excellent way.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's Support of Hillary Clinton

On May 14, 2007, the Clinton Campaign announced the endorsement of Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and named her a National Campaign Co-Chair and Gulf States Regional Co-Chair. In her endorsement of Senator Clinton Lee stated, ”I am pleased today to endorse Hillary Rodham Clinton for President. Senator Clinton has a great love for America and has a deep understanding of the issues that face our nation. I look forward to having a strategic role in the campaign and helping this dedicated public servant become the next President of the United States.”



As I have stated in a previous post, I truly admire Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee. In that same posting I wrote: “ Why would Congresswoman Shelia Jackson-Lee or any other Black elected official continue in their roles in Senator Clinton’s campaign? What can their girl Hillary say to them after Bill has embraced right wing talk radio hosts led by Limbaugh? What future post or job is worth selling the hopes and dream of one’s race to a couple that would do and say anything to return to the White House?” I now believe that I may have answers to the above-mentioned questions.
http://politics.yourblackworld.com/2008/03/hillarys-nuclear-option-position-me-or.html


Congressman Sheila Jackson-Lee will be Vice President on a Senator Hillary Clinton ticket for the Presidency. How you may ask did I come to the conclusion that Jackson-Lee is slated for the VP slot on the ticket? I am glad that you asked.



On Thursday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi make public comments that included the statement “Take it from me there will be a dream ticket but it won’t be these two candidates together (Obama and Clinton).


The Speaker’s statement reminded me of a reply that I received while participating on a live call on a local political program in Houston. After I asked the panel what post did Clinton promise Jackson-Lee for her support one of the host responded that rumor has it that Lee will be the Vice President on Hillary’s ticket.


Does Hillary Clinton, Congresswomen Lee, and Nancy Pelosi, think that Senator Obama’s loyal and die-hard supporters will embrace Clinton as the Democratic nominee just because Congresswoman Shelia Jackson-Lee is on the ticket? News flash to Hillary, Jackson Lee, the world, and Hillary’s entire campaign staff the answer is a resounding “NO.”



I am very passionate in my support for Senator Obama. I believe in my heart that this is a divine time for Obama and this country. We all know that our God works in mysterious ways. God has given all of us free will. I hope and pray that people in power will not let greed and the need for more power cause them to self-destruct as a democracy and as a nation.


As a race of people we are all familiar with the passage in the bible that states that the greatest country in the world is going to fail. It is my belief that America is that country.

In one of my posting titled ”A Prayer for the Protection of Senator Barack Obama” I wrote in part: “God we know that the enemy comes to seek, to devour, and to destroy. Father God please protect Obama from the people of this world who do the enemy’s works on the earth.


Lord we have seen what the enemy has done in Pakistan and Kenya. Please Lord protect this country from the same type of election turmoil, confusion, and strife that is the current reality of those two countries and in other nations on the earth.



Please Father God spare us from the fate and the division caused during the 2000 presidential election. Please God place it in the hearts and minds of this nation and its people the wisdom and courage to demand and respect an orderly, fair, and impartial political process during this historic election year. Lord we pray that America will once again be a true example of democracy, love, and peace to the rest of the world.”

http://gospel.yourblackworld.com/2008/01/my-mother-was-prayer-warrior-who-went.html



Karl Rove and the Republican Party successfully split the Black vote by giving “cash” to black churches and by placing the gay marriage issue on the ballot in key states. My uncle, two sisters, and many members of a previous church voted for George Bush. My sisters and uncle would later tell me that Bush tricked them.



The Clintons, Republicans, or the Democratic Party will not trick us as a people. It is now time for America and the Democratic Party to put up or shut up. This country has preached that Affirmative Action is not needed because America offers equal opportunity to all of its citizens.



According to many White Americans, if Black Americans worked hard, were law abiding, and obtained a good education they could obtain any position in this nation and achieve the American dream. The ultimate American position and/or dream is the become the President of the United States of America.



Senator Barack Obama has played by all the rules. He has worked hard and has by all account ran an excellent campaign. He has won more pledged delegates, states, and votes than Clinton. The super delegates of the Democratic Party must support Obama as the nominee if at the end of the primary process he has won more pledge delegates and has more votes than Senator Clinton.



As a nation we united after we were attacked by al-Qaeda led by Osama bin Laden on September 11, 2001. Therefore, we know that it is possible for this country to unite. Under the leadership of President Barack Obama this country will once again stand united as one nation under God.



The Clintons with all of their baggage cannot and will not unite this country. Our entire nation suffered during the impeachment proceedings of President William Jefferson Clinton and the Monica Lewinsky saga. Having the Clintons in the White House again would be extremely bad for America in general and for Black Americans in particular.



Lastly Congresswoman Lee if I am wrong in my assumption that Senator Clinton has promised you the Vice Presidency for your support please forgive me. If I am correct please don’t let the Clintons or anyone else use you to seek and/or secure a THIRD term for President Bill Clinton or a THIRD term for the failed policies of George Bush.



Vera Richardson is the author of “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real Or Imagined.”http://www.lulu.com/content/1362173

We are called to be sheep so why do we sometimes behave like ostriches?

We are called to be sheep so why do we sometimes behave like ostriches?

Job 39:

13 "The ostrich flaps her wings grandly, but they are no match for the feathers of the stork.
The ostrich is not like the stork. She is prideful and arrogant as she flaps about, the sound of the ostrich is a shrill wailing. The ostrich makes such flagrant moves because she believes she looks good and wants to be seen so she makes a scene. (It was once fashionable for women to wear hats adorned with ostrich plumes.) However, the beautiful and valuable feathers of the ostrich are not equal to those of the stork.



The stork is gentle. She is not wild nor is she arrogantly strutting about creating a chaotic commotion. In contrast the stork leads a calm and serene life.


As we consider the characteristics of these two creatures we can see perhaps that differences in what carnal and godly people display in life. Perhaps one might say the stork embodies the fruit of the spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:22 -26
The ostrich is an example of one living selfishly and stupidly, regarding and respecting no one. She is full of vain glory, she is provocative, and is envious and desires to be envied.

Sadly, in life many of us do envy the ostriches, those ostentatious persons, who speak too loudly, too often, too much, too coarsely, and with too little prayer. We can find ostriches in the church. Often they are talented and gifted but they are rarely beneficial to the ministry because it is so difficult to work with them. When compliments are given out they always find a way to redirect the shine on themselves, seemingly mindless that we as Christians do all to the glory of God in the name of Jesus and never in our own names.

Job 39: 14 She lays her eggs on top of the earth, letting them be warmed in the dust. 15 She doesn't worry that a foot might crush them or that wild animals might destroy them. 16 She is harsh toward her young, as if they were not her own. She is unconcerned though they die, 17 for God has deprived her of wisdom. He has given her no understanding. 18 But whenever she jumps up to run, she passes the swiftest horse with its rider.

Ostriches do not understand their responsibility to God is demonstrated by serving others. Sadly, those ostriches who do become mothers never seem to connect with their children, their careless behavior does not cease while they are pregnant and continues after they give birth.

Allowing her eggs to be warmed in the dust is the same as allowing one’s fetus to be developed in whatever carnal environment one finds oneself. She has not concern for establishing a covenant relationship and building a home in which she can warm and protect her eggs. Carefully, determining what will be allowed into the environment in which she will raise her young. No the ostrich allows the eggs to wallow about in the dust unprotected.

Ostriches do not concern themselves with the wild asses, dogs, swine, and other animals of prey that may attack her eggs. She does not consider that humans walking about hunting may be unaware that an egg is lying about and may unintentionally crush it.

Should the fragile eggs reach maturity the ostrich is detached from her young and cruel to them, she lacks maternal connection and concern. God has deprived her of wisdom. This is not because God is unloving.

Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom; and to depart from evil [is] understanding.

Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.

Pro 15:33 The fear of the LORD [is] the instruction of wisdom; and before honour [is] humility.


God has never changed, He is available to all who seek Him. Often we see people in the church who confess Christ but who seemingly have not completed the conversion…they are hanging onto some ostrich feathers. Maybe we ourselves have some treasured ostrich feathers.

Perhaps we are guilty of a little flapping about and grandstanding when we should be meekly and obediently following. Likewise, we may be careless with the young or young in the faith in our life.

If we are not mothers, we are not excused from nurturing responsibility of the children God brings into our lives whether in our extended family, church family, community, or by circumstance.

Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us. James 1:27

We must be able to discern that the children of the ostrich are spiritual orphans. Their mothers may be visible but that does not mean she is providing a viable parental support. Moreover, we cannot allow our disdain for her choices to divert us from our responsibility from caring for the children. It may well be the children of the ostrich who lead her to Jesus. Moreover, when we allow the ostriches in the church or in the world to determine our course of action then we have allowed ourselves to be corrupted.

Amazingly, the ostrich has two known characteristics: swiftness and foolishness. There are two sayings “foolish as an ostrich” or “swift as an ostrich”. The ostrich when sensing fear does not have a fight or flight sense, she will bury her head in the sand or she will run from her problems.

Ostriches burying their heads in the sand refuse to see what everyone around them sees. Her finances are a mess and she continues shopping. She changes who the name of who she is dating but basically it is the same old character with same old problems and she cannot understand why she has relationship troubles. Her attitude is negative and she talks more than she listens which results in her having problems with roommates, friends, on the job, and even in public and she just does not receive the message she needs to make an adjustment. We have all been there and we all know some ostriches. When you catch yourself in an ostrich moment ask yourself when the last time you were in the fellowship of the saints was. Why? Because sheep are flock animals they are safe in the fold being led by the shepherd. Ostriches are proud and arrogant, mean, and can even be violent…they rarely travel in flocks, now maybe you see a few in a pack.

Ostriches running from trouble wait for no one. She will abandon children, friends, job, and church. Often she does not even seek to obtain the details to see if there is a true problem or if resolution is possible. She allows her fear to rule and she goes on the run. Someone whispers there is trouble and she pulls a disappearing act – no notice, no remorse.

Sadly, the meanness of the ostrich will allow her to try and move on without considering what or who she has abandoned. She will use any manipulation to be the innocent or the victim…rumor and innuendo is a favorite tactic.

Perhaps we have been guilty of giving in, giving out, or giving up too soon. We must remember our faith is strengthened in the congregation. It is through Bible study fellowship, personal devotional periods, prayer, and consistent commitment to God that is expressed through consistent commitment to a local congregation that we grow, serve, and worship. It is during the fellowship that we become more like sheep. We need to come together as often and regularly as possible so that develop and maintain sheep characteristics and tendencies.


Hebrews 10:21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's people, 22 let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23 Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.
26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of God's judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. 28 Anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Think how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were common and unholy. Such people have insulted and enraged the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to his people.

May God grant us the grace and strength to be sheep even if there ostriches in our midst. Amen.