AMAZING GRACE! for everyone
In the last few weeks we have witnessed two wonderful things happen in our little cyber community. First, many people are connecting to a great discussion on Hebraic thinking, patterns, festivals and exegesis. Now, some of them are getting connected beyond this web page foundation. They are deciding to do life together by connecting with each other. THIS IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT! I am thrilled.
Second, at the same time, several readers have shared their stories, their struggles and their concerns. This is also essential to the growth of our group. I want so much to be of help. Our first concern in doing righteousness is “How can I help you today?” If we all started there, what a difference it would make.
So, let me know what I can do, and I will let others know too.
And we will experience the joy of revealed righteousness.
Skip
I would like for the group to remember my wife and I in your prayers, we have been looking for a church to do full time ministry. I am a ordained pastor and right now I am not pastoring full time. I am in a part time church and working at a fulltime job. I have been in full time pastoring for 23 years and this is the first itme I have been without a church fulltime. I know and feel that God is calling me to a church , but it seems everytime I apply to a church they send back a note saying that I am not being considered for the postion at this time. I know that at times God sets one aside for a rest. But it has been almost a year now and still looking for that oppertunity to that church that calls us fultime. I am asking for prayer most of all, for that contentment that Paul writes about being content in all ways. I am aksing for prayer for comfort and peace to knwo that I am in God’s will at this time. I ask for prayers that God will soon show me the way and to open up doors for me to move back into fultime pastoring. Thank you all for your prayers.
Gary,
First, we will definitely be in prayer for you and your wife. My husband’s also is in the church business and we are feeling the bite of the economic times, too. In what area are you located? Maybe my husband will have someone he can connect you to.
Blessings,
Babs
I have filled out the connect form that I am in Austin, Tx. Maybe, no one is in the Austin area.
I have been going through a series of business deals not working out. Actually, they have worked out very well for the other parties. I am the author of an diet and nutrition book The Super Antioxidant Diet. I have worked with several businesses who want me to promote their business by designing diet plans, menus and programs. They all promise me a percentage of what I develop. I’ve run up a hefty legal debt having contracts drawn with these people but they will never sign them, they just put it off. Because i need the money I have gone ahead and done the work for a reduced fee and a promise of the future business. Once I design the program they dump me but keep using my plan and my book which they have every right to use by purchasing it wholesale from the publisher. I am always financially strapped due to these situations. This has been been reoccurring since my book was published in 2008. The same situation has happened 4 times in a row now. I am at a loss of what to do. My book teaches people about nutrient-dense, antioxidant eating for health and Torah principles. I have numerous testimonies from people who have been healed and their lives changed from following the principles I’ve presented. I even have an online following of over 400 people. Obviously, I must not be doing what the Father wants me to do. I am very low on funds and don’t know what to do.
ROBIN JEEP, —Sorry, yesterday I got wound up writing the Pastors, and my opinions on that.—Then our Foster military family from Ft.Hood, got an SOS, and called us to help. The wife her sister visiting from NY, and five little children were in a terrible 3 car wreck in North AUSTIN-Lakeline Mall– they were not at fault at all, but their light weight Ford Suburan, was totaled. A truck was pushed into their rear end, the impact spun them around three times and slammed them into a huge brick wall. The young military father called us to follow him, to go and see what needed to be done. We did, AND THIS IS A THANKS UNTO THE LORD, BECAUSE NO ONE WAS SEVERLY INJURED–THE YOUNG MOTHER, OUR “FOSTER DAUGHTER” MAY HAVE A WHIP LASH with head, neck, back., their vehicle was totaled. — ThAT THEY WERE BASICALLY UNHARMED was truly “A G-D THING. — I had to keep them awake the last 30 min. as it was past bedtime, but I wanted them to be bathed and put to bed for the rest of the night. But at the end of their unbeivalbe day, I asked each one to say a prayer to God, and state, & thank HIM for that in that wreck they were not hurt. (that they vividly remembered from afternoon, ) They did and were so sweet about doing it. My heart melted at those precious little children, two little girls, and their little male cousin from NY.
Both of the young mothers and sisters to each other, were/are in shock over it all. — We were able to bring all of them home with the military Father’s pickup, and in our two seat pickup–( yes, this 80 year old man, & 76 woman only have one vehicle, a pickup, we in live in TX, you know)
We had three of the little ones all under five years with us, and they made the trip home ( an hour plus from N. Austin) very well after they were fed. —- I must run, YES ROBIN JEEP, MORE TO YOU LATER, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A DAUGHTER AND HUSBAND AND SEVERAL GRANDDAUGHTERS IN THE AUSTIN AREA–OUR DAUGHTER, I AM WONDERING, BUT SHE COULD KNOW YOU. I WILL ASK WHEN I COMMUNICATE WITH HER IN A DAY OR SO. BE OF GOOD CHEER, YOU ARE DOING WHAT IS RIGHT, I KNOW THE WORLD SYSTEM IS WORKING AGAINST YOU, BUT GOD IS NOT. WITH THE LOVE OF JESUS, L.b.
MY NAME IS ED. I HAVE BEEN A MINISTER SINCE THE AGE OF 11 YEARS OLD. I HAVE SERVED AS A MUSIC DIRECTOR, SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, YOUTH LEADER, WORSHIP PASTOR, AND SENIOR PASTOR. I MAY LOSE SOME OF YOU ON MY NEXT STATEMENT BUT, GOD KNOWS MY HEART. IN 1988 AFTER STRUGGLING IN PASTORATES DUE TO UNKIND, UNDISCIPLINED PEOPLE, I LEFT THE CHURCH I WAS SERVING. I WAS HURTING AND WENT TO AN ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH. I RECEIVED THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THAT SERVICE. I KNEW THE TIME HAD COME FOR ME TO MAKE A DECISION THAT WOULD ALTER MY LIFE. I CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A FILL-IN AND SUPPLY MINISTER UNTIL 1992. I LEFT. I HAVE NOT PASTORED A CHURCH SINCE 1988. I KNOW GOD CALLED ME, LIKE THE BROTHER IN THE ABOVED COMMENT, I HAVE HAD REJECTION AFTER REJECTION. MY CURRENT PASTOR WHO HAS BEEN SUCH A WONDERFUL SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND HAS MENTORED ME, GAVE ME SOUND ADVICE. HE SAID I SHOULD BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART, AND WAIT UPON THE LORD.
I BELIEVE GOD HAS HIS OWN TIMING ON EVERYTHING. WHAT I FIND DIFFICULT IS THE WAITING. I LOVE GOD, AND KNOW HE HAS EMPOWERED ME WITH WORD TO HELP PEOPLE WITH THEIR DAILY STRUGGLES, AND TO ASSIST THEM IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. GARY, I HOPE YOU READ THIS MY BROTHER. I WANT YOU TO KNOW FIRST AND FOREMOST, GOD HAS NOT FORSAKEN YOU. DURING THIS TIME OF REST ALLOW GOD TO REKINDLE THE FLAME. I CAN READ THE COMPASSION YOU HAVE IN YOUR HEART, AND FEEL GOD IS GOING TO USE THIS TO PLACE YOU WHERE YOU ARE NEEDED THE MOST. I AM NOT PROPHECYING TO YOU, I AM GIVING A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU. I AM SO THANKFUL WE HAVE THIS AVENUE TO SHARE WITH OTHERS. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE TELL ME TO PREPARE FOR ANOTHER CAREER JUST IN CASE GOD DOESN’T OPEN A CHURCH OR IF I HAVE TO WORK IN THE SECULAR WORLD. I HAVE GIVEN IN TO THEM, BUT, HAVE NOT GIVEN UP ON GOD. GARY, MAY GOD BLESS YOU MY BROTHER, KEEP YOUR FAITH, AND SERVE GOD TO YOUR FULLEST AND THE DOORS WILL SWING OPEN WIDE. HAVE YOU TRIED THE (CHURCHJOBS.NET) WEBSITE? THEY LIST CHURCHES AND I FOUND MANY TO LOOK AT. I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED, BUT, OF YOU WANT TO EMAIL ME AND LET US ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER, YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT (MRMUSICMANHARRIS@AOL.COM). GOD BLESS YOU. IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO EMAIL ME AND WE CAL ALL BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO ONE ANOTHER FEEL FREE.
The “church” has changed. Believers are leaving the “church” in droves. The desire is of YHVH but where are you to be serving? You may be on the back 40 like Moses for a reason.
Dear Sirs: Gary and Ed, and then all of you who have scriptual opinons on this: I know that we have been talking about in the replys to many of Skip’s teachings, that the current cultural churches or not real churches as established in the New Testament. We have called them everything from Country Clubs, to non-regenerate institutions, to the organization of Babylon. So it seems to me that lack of faith in the cultural church today, would say that God is not involved in putting pastors in most of the places we call church. Am I wrong on this?
Basically today, you must be a member of a denomination and in excellent standing with the entire convention and colleges and seminaries of that group or denomination, to get to pastor a church large enough to support you full time, without working another job.
Paul did have a job other than being in full time service for the Lord after his conversion. And apparently he had no wife or children to care for.—- I have often thought that is what God wants His pastors to do, is have a work/ profession outside the pastorate. More of the home-church type. But our culture adores BIGGER AND MORE OF EVERYTHING.
Our 25 year old grandson is a Youth & Music pastor in a church with about 200 youth in a separate service from adults. Our son, his father, and his mother, insisted he get a degree and work in the church free during that time, and then if he wanted a full time ministry, add more education for that. He is five year engineer degreed from U of AZ, has a full time job with Raytheon since graduation, the past two years.
He loves his job, works hard in it. But he is now also the Youth & Music Pastor of a church, but again with no pay. He is dating a young lady with two degrees, and they are so sold out to the Lord Jesus, that their spare time is spent in ministry to the Youth of that Church and all who come to it
.—— Yes, in this same church our daughter-in-law works with the 8-12 year olds, they did for the passover time this spring, a complete Seder Passover Feast. No pay for her at the church. She works at several jobs earning money to help with living: A small catering service, music lessons, and helps wire black boxes. for our son’s small avionics engineering service.– This Church is not considered Messanic at all. At Christmas they have an outdoor Nativity Scene complete with costumes, live animals, and Roman Centurions, acting as converted Christians discuss and talk with the visitors open to the public. Our daughter-in-law, started it about four years ago, and now has a large volunteer group in planning and helping in all areas. People wait to get the position they want, it is so successful. No pay for her , or the volunteers. ——Location: East Tucson, AZ.
My husband and I have in the past 37 years felt among many other callings all mentioned in The New Testament, that we were called to be encouragers to Pastors, and leaders of the church. We have done this, and have become close to several pastors and seen what they and their families have gone through. We have been reunited the past few weeks with the grown children of one dear pastor that died at age 54, about 1975, and left four children ages five to 16 years. Their mother is still not functioning well because of the trauma of his death, and the heart aches of raising those children without their father.
So again we have been evaluating carefully, pastors in the contemporay era. The mega churches have some wealthy pastors, but a large majority of pastors, have full time jobs in the church with too much work to even study and pray and are not effecitve in their work. Their wives & children are beaten up by church members.– It is not a good example of Christianity.
I would encourage people that are called to be pastors, to have other skills, plans, degrees, to do worthwhile jobs- We are not an agrarian culture with a priesthood. Be careful who you marry, and careful about the lifestyle you & her may be expecting. Carefully examine the requirement of the denomination, or community you are in.
When I found out about the lives of the now grown children of our former Pastor that I spoke of dying at 54, I was devastated. He was well educated; he had a PhD from a well known denominational Seminary, had taught in one, and then pastored.
Three out of four of his children are divorced with a total of ten young children being pulled between two living areas with all the heartbreaks of not having two parents working together in one area for the good of them. All these lives are upside down from what any of us would have expected.
I remembered that Ed and I had been on the committe to help the pastor’s wife, and children after he died. We worked hard and fought one other group, in order to get the church that carried the note for their home, to forgive the note on it. This week, with all this coming to light from Face Book, we just praised God for letting the pastor’s wife having had a home to raise her four in. And now for two of those children to come back to with their little ones.
I have gone on long enough, but think all people do need more than one skill to make a living in this culuture, No matter their calling to be pastors, apostles, —etc.
And ALL true Christians must give of their talents, resources, times, according to what the Lord has given them, and everyone is to WORK. Check out I Thessalonians 4: 11-12 in two or three versions! L.B.
I doubt that there is any coincidence that the same story seems to be repeating in so many of our lives.
So could it be that we are all “called out ones” — called out of the system into something greater that could not be revealed inside cultural Christianity? I know the religious spirits continue to pull us back in, but we can struggle to stay free and learn what it is that He has for us in this different context.
Shouldn’t that be our prayer — that He reveals to us the true purpose of this change in direction, and that we will be obedient when we see it?
Amen sister! Well spoken.
I am one still struggling with seeing the ineffectiveness of a lukewarm church that has lost its vision and fire. I was originally drawn there as a moth to the flame and now I battle the fine line between prideful indignation with the foolishness of a virgin who needed to make sure her lamp was full before falling asleep and a heart that loves these dear people who have been lulled to sleep by a hollow rendition of a powerless gospel. Could it be that God is calling some of us out of that system to flow in the power of a heart consumed by the fire of the Holy Spirit within that system in spite of it?
My sister Mary …. YES is the answer!
Some are led to stay and wage battle … a subtle battle that will lead to others seeing the power of the truth and finding their way!
Others are called to exit …. the truth being too apparent and the need to be with a spirit filled community too strong!
Others just seem to be blessed beyond belief and in spite of the system He raises them up with Spirit and His will is purposed through their lives!
Ultimately however a choice will need to be made will it not? Do we serve Him in the Spirit of truth or in the traditions of men?
The sadness and fear you reveal is prevalent in many more of us … you can be assured. So we do not negotiate with the ruling principality …. but we tenderly and sometimes boldly reach out in the Spirit of Truth …. is it not our obligation?
Oh Lord awaken the slumbering ones …. this is our prayer!
Mary, Yes, I guess that I have lived long enough to have been through so many different stages of cultural Christianity–I was born into it, educated in SS and Church services, went to a denominational U.–my husband taught in three U. that used the name of that denomination- he spent about 43 years in them. When the Lord through the power of His Holy Spirit, began to open up heavenly things upon us, even our pastor rejected it. Everything happening to us was scriptural and we did not cause any problems in speaking about the glorious events. Our denomination did not believe that NT fire, and gifts of healings, miracles, etc. were for today. __( Most of that denomination has not changed their minds, although they lost many people from their congreations that were literally baptized in the Holy Spirit, and recieved gifts similar to those in the book of Acts.- The denominational people still have no idea why they left. —— We struggled with trying to stay, or leave and go to a church that believed the book of Acts was for today. We were in a large city, and therefore; had plenty of choices. In small towns and rural areas it is often not possible to find a Biblical Church that is Aglow with the Spirit. I also think that if you have children , that they are to be considered–for their stablity.
In the city where we lived in the early 1970’s, God was touching people right and left out of many denominations, and we were privileged for leaders that were Biblical scholars with the Fire of the Holy Spirit, to come and teach and give seminars in the larger cities. It was months and years of such valuable things going on.— During that time the pastor that I spoke of dying young, above, in what I wrote, came to us and wanted us to come and be a part of his congreation (the same denomination we had always been a part of). God had blessed him so much in every area, we went and joined the church, then within two years he died so suddenly.
After two more years and us being so involved in that church’s ministry, the Lord released us to go, several others were leaving, too–(as stated in the city, it easy to find another place-some left just because of driving distances). We had been walking in The NT freedom of the Spirit for about 15+ years , staying in the same denomination–that we did not totally agree but kept our mouth closed, and kept the peace.
After our pastor’s death, it took two years to get another one, the old core group tried to grab the power and get a straightlace denominational man.
So eventually after we were released in the Spirit to go, we left and went to a great church with an Austrailian pastor, and we walked in the heavenlies for about five years, learning the Word so brillantly given and going out in the Anointing of the Holy Spirit. Words cannot express the Glory that Came Down.—These pastorsand deacons and their wives , walked the isles after times at the altar, and praise and worship, and prayed in teams for those that the Lord showed them to pray for. Paul spoke of things he saw in the heavens, that he could not even speak of. Yes, we saw such things happen and were a part of it. God is still working today on our earth. ——
Then we were moved to the back side of the desert, the top of TX, to care for my very elderly parents. We both were retired. God literally turned our lives upside down, stripping us of everything, except Him, the Word, our Hope in Jesus, and our large family. ( none of the children or grandchildren)were anywhere near though)—- We stayed six and half years, before both parents went on to be with God. Dad lacked four months being 100, also a brother younger than me, died during those years.—- We then moved here 9 years ago, to be more centrally located to our immediate family.( Still two hours to the closest ones)–
——-NEVER HAS THE LORD PERMITTED US TO BE A CHURCH MEMBER, SINCE THE last one in the city. WE have even taken a SS class here for many months in one denomination. We minister regularly one on one outside of the church–often the Lord just sends people to us as we work in the yard. It is amazing the things He has allowed us to do through HIm, without belonging to a cultural church. ————–I try to walk out what I know & study from God’s Word, one day at a time–always relying on prayer, and praise to the Heavenly Father through Jesus the Son, and the power of the Holy Spirit. I try to Spend time in the New Testament each day, and fit in the rest as I feel directed. I keep three daily devotionals going, Skips, and Oswald Chamber’s, and Charles Spurgeon’s, I usually have one worth while Christian book to read nearby, right now, it is The Bue Parakeet. I try not to be deterred by too much scholarly study, especially since my time is so full of active practical work- our current Military family and three small children–often much time involved with them– ( which we both are very thankful to be able to do), but, I/we act and think so much slower now ( 76 years old, and an 80 yr. old husband).
So these are some of the experiences of people who have been through what you are in. I hope some of this will speak to you.
Remember when Jesus asked some of the disciples if they too would leave him– after some of his disciples had found his sayings to difficult , and turned and walked no more with HIm?
—- I think it was Peter, who replied, ” Lord, to whom would we go?” Those are my thoughts, too. Where else, or to whom would we go? — L.B.