Preach the Truth of Jesus!

Good morning to all on this glorious Monday morning! Waine and I spent a relaxing week in Jamaica and my batteries are re-charged and I am ready to rock and roll. Aleron has moved back home with us temporarily. His apartment was broken into and was burglarized. Thank God he was not home or hurt. Please also pray for him that he matches with Emory's ER program on March 17th. Continue to pray for ET and his recovery and continue to keep JKS in your prayers for her recovery. If you have prayer requests please give us your comments.

I am continuing my journey in 1 Timothy today 3 verses 14-16. Paul writes, "Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the Living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.  Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. " Amen!

Road maps! Paul was giving the early Church a road map for behavior in Jesus Name!  I was having a conversation yesterday with some very spiritual people. I know that they love Jesus and are saved but they do not worship with other Christians in an organized fashion on Sunday and its because in their view, the Church has failed Christ and humanity. So many atrocities have been committed in the name of the "church". The church has enslaved whole societies in the name of the "church"; the crusades were a time when in the name of God the church plundered whole countries and then brought the plunder back to the "church". Racism in America was perpetuated by the White Citizen's Council through the Southern Baptist church. I heard a program yesterday on NPR concerning the 1960's and the road to the Voting Acts legislation. The white men of Mississippi and the south formed groups (Citizen's Council) to block integration and held rallies that were opened and closed by ministers in prayer. When this didn't work then off shoots of the White Citizen's Council was formed into the White Knights of the Klu Klux Klan who felt it was okay to rape, mutilate and murder.

Still today religion is used to polarize people as opposed to spreading the Word of God and the Love of God.  As much as I love Joyce Meyers, she and her husband hosted a program last week in which a guest was preaching the "conservative" agenda which is just a code word to continue the oppression of folk who are dis-enfranchised. Now does this mean I support welfare and its devastating effects? Absolutely not however I would not use a religious platform to meter out my political and sociological thinking. The Church as Christ intended is to demonstrate the FRUITS of the Spirit the greatest of these is LOVE. If the Church cannot reflect God's Love to a desperate World where can the world turn? Sex, drugs and rock and roll which is what is happening.

So many people are turning away from Jesus because of the action of the "church" and the people that say they represent the church. I think we need to get back to basics and be sensitive to the needs of the people around us and WALK IN LOVE. If we walk in love and keep the love of Jesus in front of our face and the face of those that would rather live in entitlement programs than become responsible citizens who give back, I think the world would get better and faster!  I am challenging all of us to get back in the church so that the church through your love of God and Christ can be healed. It is the institution that Christ established when he told Peter "upon this rock I will build my church". Jesus saw a purpose for The Church and the Church as Christ intended, needs more Christians in it and not outside it! Maybe instead of preaching the gospel to India and Africa, some of these tele-evangelist should preach the gospel to the churches of America. 

As I write this blog entry, I am also listening to Joyce Meyers and today's commentary was to show the audience how much her ministry does in American as opposed to oversees. This was a real burden for me about her ministry and now God has answered my concerns and prayers in real time. You see this is how God works. He is always right on time! Hallelujah! John 14:1-3 says "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." Hallelujah and Amen! Go in peace today and be fearless for Christ because He commanded that your hearts not be troubled!!

Now may the LORD bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen.

Stephanie