Posted by Pastor Rich on December 7, 2011 under Pastors Blog
As we approach what should be a Glorious Season for “The Church.” We should be taking to the streets the real reason for the Season. Instead of Merry X-Mas we should be declaring Merry Christmas! During this season we have an open door to tell family and friends what the real reason for the season is. So make this season the Greatest Season for Jesus ever! Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the World around you! It Is the Season!
Posted by Pastor Rich on September 13, 2011 under Pastors Blog
For the last many days the Lord has kept repeating the same word to me. ”Ocean” “Ocean” “Ocean” until I finally asked the Lord what he was meaning by the word “Ocean”. The response to my question was amazing to me. The Lord declared that he was going to be send refreshing waves to His Church if they are willing to get into the water with Him. What do you mean by that you might ask. I wondered for a moment the same thing… We have been so busy trying to “Be the Church” that we haven’t been taking the time to be refreshed by His Water or rather His Word. We don’t get into the Word of God like we used to, we don’t have a desire to devour the Word of God so that it will light our path and be a lamp in darkness. As I studied the Ocean I felt the Lord speak several things to me. 1.) The Ocean is so deep we can’t reach the bottom on our own. 2.) The Ocean is full of life and that life comes in so many forms and fashions. 3.) The Ocean is Refreshing, Fun and Relaxing… When we rest in the Word of God it is truly refreshing to our spirit, fun for our soul that clammers for laughter and relaxing to our soul that often needs to be calmed. 4.) The last thing was that the Ocean is so Broad… We can stand on one shore and with the naked eye never be able to see the other side of God’s Ocean. The waves of the ocean come and go but you will never be able to truly feel their strength and all that they have to offer unless you get into the Ocean. So, with that I challenge you today to get into the Ocean of God’s word so that you may receive the benefits of His Ocean.
Posted by Pastor Rich on June 30, 2011 under Pastors Blog
I was listening to a man talk about reasons for the blinding of the American Christians eyes to the dangers that could lie ahead of us. After I brought my self-righteousness under control I realized that he was right. We need to really look at the gospel not through “Western Culture” eyes but through the eyes of the Hebrew people to whom the majority was aimed at teaching. Once we gain a Jewish perspective of the scriptures then we can see more revelation in the scriptures. Example… Recently a pastor spoke to a Jewish High Priest about what the pentecostals call speaking in tongues and the High Priest called it speaking God’s language. How enlightening!!! Another… Many of the things in Revelation can be understood when we see the bible through the eyes of the original target audience. I challenge you today to study the Word of God and try to understand it through Jewish Eyes instead of Western Eyes. It will illuminate the Word in amazing ways for you. Once we understand our Jewish Heritage, then we can understand the vastness of God’s grace and mercy. God loves us and seeks to prosper, heal and protect us, we have to understand the amazingness of who “Ya” is.
Posted by Pastor Rich on February 1, 2011 under Pastors Blog
Throughout our lives we find challenges that really make who we are for Christ come into perspective. One of those challenges is a meaningful prayer life that is fulfilled by us cultivating good prayer habits. During my THE 311 Global University class I came across five things that will help me push myself toward better prayer habits.
I have to:
- Recognize I need to change my prayer habits
- Realize that change doesn’t happen without struggle and effort
- Turn my good intentions into action
- Discipline myself to work on these prayer habits consistently
- Concentrate on one new prayer habit at a time
(Global University IST pg. 100)
So, here is my challenge to you as February starts… It takes twenty-one days to form a habit and only a couple to break one. How many of you will work with me this month to develop better prayer habits?
Posted by Pastor Rich on August 15, 2010 under Pastors Blog
It is so hard for men to humble themselves enough to stop and ask for directions. Men often identify a familiar landmark hoping that they have spotted the real thing so they don’t have to stop and ask for directions. Asking for directions is like admitting that we don’t know all that we think we do. Men were so glad when the GPS systems in cars came out so they could get directions without lowering our Machoness by admitting to our signicant others that we were really lost. Unfortunately many men today live under that same assumption spiritually. They don’t want to ask for directions to eternal life. They want to find it on their own or they figure “That Jesus Stuff is for other People, I don’t need it.” Reality is that someday all will bow and either admit they got directions from Jesus or they will wish they had… Deuteronomy 30:19 reads as follows: I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: The choice is up to us… God’s word gave us the simple directions that if we will confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved. Simple as that huh? Yes!
Posted by Pastor Rich on August 12, 2010 under Pastors Blog
It is so easy to call ourselves a “Christian” but how hard is it to be a true “Believer in Christ.” Many use the name “Christian” as a badge of courage or as shield to hide behind. I believe that Jesus was looking for an army of disciples or followers if you will, that not only follow Him but that prove it by their actions. They prove it by believing with all of the heart, mind and soul in the deity of Jesus and also by how they serve those around them. It is easy to be served but it is humbling and hard to serve others. It doesn’t take very much action on our part to be served but it may take blood, sweat and tears to serve. It doesn’t take much to say “I’m a Christian” but takes a true change of heart to BE a “Believer in Christ.” Our Challenge is not just to profess we are “Christians” but it is to let our actions prove that we are a “Believer in Christ.”
Posted by Pastor Rich on June 3, 2010 under Pastors Blog
For many people “The Call” of God on their lives can be way too overwhelming to fathom that they would be able to achieve God’s plan. With that overwhelming feeling at heart many people push back from “The Call” out of fear. The fear: Failure, inability to live righteous, changes God will require and a host of other excuses for not answering “The Call”. I have been overwhelmed, I have feared failing, I have feared not being able to live as righteous as God would expect but I have found that God hasn’t expected me to be perfect, He just expected me to be willing to try. Too many times we disqualify ourselves from “The Call” of God because we allow all of the fears and potential failures to override the supernatural gifts that God is willing to bestow upon us to accomplish what he has called us to do. It is very easy to sit back and be content with cushy jobs and the security we may have and say the risks are too high and that God will have to send someone else in our place. The question then begs to be asked… Who may not have accepted the Savior because of our unwillingness to answer “The Call”. I chose “The Call” because I didn’t want to ever stand before God and hear that someone didn’t make it to heaven because of me. I want to stand during that great and terrible judgement day and hear “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” We may see the risks and the challenges as too great but I can assure you that the risks of failing to answer “The Call” have much greater potential for eternal consequences. My friend your calling may be as simple as welcoming friends and loved ones into the doors of the church but whatever it is do it with all of your heart as unto the Lord. Heed His calling and He will give you the qualifications needed to be successful.
Posted by Pastor Rich on February 25, 2010 under Pastors Blog
How many times do we listen but at the same time we don’t listen when the Father is speaking to us. We are so busy with out lives that we don’t leave time for truly listening to what He wants. Many times with our motor-mouth prayers we don’t even give him time to speak. Why? Because we are so into what we want and not what He wants. We are pretty selfish and self-absorbed. I know this comes as a shock to many but we weren’t the only people like this. In Exodus the Children of Israel were the same way. They couldn’t wait for Moses to come down from his meeting with God Himself and they weren’t sure they wanted to have to change their lifestyles to live righteously, so they asked the #2 man to build an idol they could worship. We have to get to the point where as Men and Women of God we wait and pray for the answers rather than go by impulse and immediate gratification. The Children of Israel couldn’t wait a day or two they wanted everything now. God lives by His own time not ours. My encouragement is to challenge you to wait and live by His time and His will and His way…. I know you will be amazed at the results!
Posted by Pastor Rich on February 15, 2010 under Pastors Blog
The day that people realize that our life is solely and wholely all about Jesus, that will be the day our Life changes for good. Too many time we want to blame our chaotic life on everything except our own sin and shortcomings, but the day we realize that God can change our chaotic life for good, things will happen for our good. I’m blessed, I’m a child of the King, Joint Heirs with Jesus and a righteous Son (or Daughter) of the Most High God.
Posted by Pastor Rich on January 2, 2010 under Pastors Blog
In order to have a great Outpouring of God’s Spirit we have a lot of work to do. God’s Outpouring will only come to a people who have Heard the Alarm, Changed their ways and Repented of their Sins and transgressions. Once we have done those things with purity of heart and a fire in our soul to Worship the Most High God, Deliverence of Bondange and the Outpouring of God’s Spirit will come.
