Monday After The Sermon

Shiloh 115th Anniversary Celebration

ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY

Well, I have taken a week away and it is time to start back. The Shiloh Church 115th anniversary was an exciting weekend and we were blessed by the preaching of Dr. Samuel Gilbert, II of the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church of Houston, Texas. We have been encouraged by the preaching of Sam my dear friend of many years.

PS. 142. 7

The Emancipation of My Incarceration

1. Freedom from the past.

2. Freedom your own mind.

3. The greatest Freedom is the emancipation of the soul.

Great word Sam!!!!!!

PL

Sunday August 12, 2007/God's Guarantee

God's Guarantee

Rom. 8. 26-30

This scripture is what I would call God's guarantee for R lives. I got this idea from some of the writings of Jon Walker. Now knowing that I have God’s guarantee gives my life meaning and purpose.

1. With God's guarantee, you can change your priorities to match the priorities of Jesus.

2. With God's guarantee, you can love other believers and your neighbors as you love yourself.

3. With God's guarantee, you can do things that are only possible with God.

PL

The Baptism of Darius

Sunday was a wonderful day because I had the opportunity to baptize a young person who accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Anytime I have the chance to baptize someone who has come to the Lord is a marvelous time. Darius is the son of Phyllis and Marion Franks.

Dr. Marion Franks is the very capable assistant to the pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church. While preparing for baptism, one of the first faces I saw was Dr. Franks and his camcorder. Marion was excitedly running the camera during all of the preparation for the baptism of Darius. I could feel the excitement of the Frank's family and all who joined with them during this blessed event.

Whenever, someone is baptized there should always be this kind of excitement because someone is making a public confession of Jesus Christ.

While I listened and watched what was going on around me, I thought about the time I made the same public confession. Thoughts of my own baptism, at 12 years old and what took place on that Sunday evening, still go through my head.

That certainly was a day I will not forget.

Praise Be to God.

PL

Download darius_baptismblog.wmv

Vacation Sunday Part 3 and Thomas Jefferson

The Visit to the Jefferson Memorial

The visit to the Jefferson Memorial was a challenging moment for me. I have always wondered about our 3rd President of the United States Thomas Jefferson's because there was a unique dichotomy between his thought and his actions. With out a doubt he was an intellectual of the first order. Who else could write some of the words he penned which flowed with such beauty.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Walking through the lobby I received a good education about our 3rd US President. I listened to the varied thinking and thought about President Jefferson which played on flat TV’s around the lobby area. While walking through the portals, I took note of the writing that had been chiseled into the wall.

"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

These words of Thomas Jefferson really caught my attention. I had never really read anything about change that had such depth. On the other hand, I knew that these words could apply to ministry and the methodology that is used to do ministry. The message of Jesus Christ never changes but the methods we use to share that message should change to meet the context and/or situation.

Just My thoughts

PL

Vacation Sunday in DC/Part 2

Vacation Sunday Part 2

Mission Sunday

This was a mission Sunday at National Community Church and the NCCer's were challenged to make a faith promise. This is to be a gift that is above and beyond the tithe. Blessings seem to always come when we make a faith gift. Many think this is a kind of preacher cliche but U can't beat God giving. What would happen in all of our churches if we excercised our financial faith. This would be a real investment because it would be an investment in the kingdom of God.

PL

Sunday August 5, 2007/Vacation Sunday in DC

I took the advice of an older pastor friend and took a little time away. For the last few years I have been away studying the last week in July and the first week in August. This year I thought I would take some time to visit the
National Community Church of Washington DC. I wanted to visit a church that was dramatically different than Shiloh.

Gary Lamb who is a church planter has suggested that pastors do a disservice to the people when they do not take time to learn from others by visiting other churches.

Seeing what God is doing in other ministries is a great way to learn. I attended NCC's 9-am service. I was blessed by what I heard and what I saw.

What imagination a church in Washington DC’s Union Station!

I have been reading Pastor Mark Batterson blog for the past six months, and I have also read his book: “In a pit with a lion on a snowy day: How to survive and thrive when opportunity roars." I appreciate his insight into reaching the unchurched and those who have been burned with the traditional church model.
While at NCC I was taking notes about everything I saw and heard and wondering what I could use in my own ministry.

This church gave $300K to missions last year. Wow. That was more then 20% of their annual budget. I am challenged by Mark’s passion for missions.

I plan to sow a seed into their mission fund.

Great service
Great ministry

PL