"I Dreamed a Dream"

Susan Boyle's time on TV has changed pop culture! She has just shown the world to NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER! We in the post modern world are superficial and this lady just busted our balloon! I really like the words of the song she sang, "I Dreamed A Dream."

There are times in our lives when the enemy wants to destroy or kill the vision/dream that God has given us. He wants to stop our destiny and destroy the plan that God has in our lives. I still believe that, "God gives us/places within us the desire of out hearts and it is His plan for those to fall into place! I want to challenge everyone who reads this not to allow the enemy to still your dream but to dream on.

"Dream as if you will live forever, live as if you only have today!"

Church of God

There are many things that the COG does that is questionable but there are more things that the COG has right than wrong. I wish we could focus on some of the good things that the COG does instead of all of the things that need fixing. We have a great church, a church that men and women died for, and a church that people have sacrificed for. Some of our men and women have given all they had to support the mission and vision and the purpose of the Church of God. In the April edition of the Evangel I saw pictures of the Church of God in Ethiopia baptizing new converts, I have been been blessed to have visited Kibera, Kenya and the Kibera Kids Center where the Church of God has a beautiful orphanage and are saving children from the horrors of the Kibera Slum. I have traveled to Trinidad and worshipped in COG Youth Camp with Trinidad's next generation of COG leaders as lives are changed. I have ministered, when I was a student at Lee University (a COG University), in the Mount of Olives Church of God in Israel and watched Palestinians worship God with all of there heart. I have been to Youth Camps, Winterfests, preached in churches across this country, worked with Men and Women of Action, passed out food with Operation Compassion, visited with two of the three COG Homes for Children in the United States where children are given a second chance, I have been to the widows center and seen widows lives eased from pain, and the list could go on...But I have said all of that to say this..."WE ARE DOING MORE RIGHT THAN WRONG." We are touching lives across the WORLD yet a handful of people are slamming the church that has mothered them, gave them shelter in storms, fed and clothed them, and educated them. WHY ARE PEOPLE STILL BEATING A DEAD HORSE? Why keep addressing problems that have been addressed like the tithe of tithe, State Offices in the red, etc. This administration has acknowledged the problem and are working on the problems. GIVE IT TIME to come to being. I am offended at those (even those who I consider friends) who call the tithe of tithe dues and taxes. Yes it is more than required by scripture but that has been acknowledged and is being hammered out. Those before us voted this in and it will take time to change it. It is not a due or a tax. It is a tithe and should be given as unto the Lord. After that it is up to the men and women who use this tithe to make sure that they are being good stewards of this money. If not they will stand before God for it and we will stand before God for the way we give it! "God loves a cheerful giver." I am offended at those who laugh and say that it is good news that a state office is going under and that our headquarters loosing $ is great news. That is sick and IMO shows a lack of spiritual maturity. It is never funny when people are struggling! Overseers, YD, EVD, and office staff have families and bills just like you and me. The statements of how funny this is or how great this is just shows a lack of compassion. Needed restructuring is on the way and we will see the first steps of it in September. Dr. Culpepper said he would report the restructuring in Sept. 09 and it would take place in Sept. 10. So why in the world are we still beating the tithe issue, the issue of state office and headquarter uses of the money, etc. This does nothing but stir up discord and give the enemy a place to sow his seeds in our hearts and churches. Let us unite and move forward together in changing times.

Psalm 23

For the past 12 weeks we have been studying the 23rd Psalm on Wednesday nights at church. I have been reading and using Keller's experiences as a shephered to help explain this Psalm in more relevant language. IF you do not have this book you are missing lots of good nuggets on PS. 23. This is a small, very easy read. Every pastor needs this book in their library. We (NWCOG) have loved this book and the study of the Psalm! Must read!!!

Destiny

I have been chewing on this subject recently. Most of my life I assumed that destiny was a place or a position for Scottie Hager. Destiny was a place I would go in life or a position that I would hold in life. As I have been chewing on this I feel as if my heart is changing.

Destiny is not a place or a position but is a place and a position in Christ. According to scripture "It is in Him that we LIVE and MOVE and HAVE OUR BEING!" If and when we as individuals find who we are in Christ then the rest of life just falls into place as He directs our steps. It is then and only then that we can live in the promise of God that says "no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind can know what God has in store..." I am searching for my place in HIM. I want to live in the place where I can expect the unexpected!

If you read my blog then I ask you to please pray for me! I have a stirring in my Spirit that has really shaken me.

Chapter 1

Calling???

One of the most powerful statements in this chapter that jumped out at me was on page34. It says, "God was choosing Paul for service not based on his ability at that moment. Rather, God called him on the recognition of his potential...what he could be and would be with God's help."

I love this statement.

I am also thankful that God see us not only for what we are but also for what we are going to be. I was just a 14 year old boy when I accepted my calling into ministry. Heaven knows that I was not ready for ministry then but I was ready, at 14, to give my life to the Lord so that he could begin a LONG process of making me. Even today some, 16yrs later, I realize more and more that ministry and life are not events but is a process that will mold me for my destiny in Him. If God is calling you then answer. He is not wanting to make it all happen right now, he just wants to start the process!

A Life Worth Living!!!

This is a must read! I bought it on Monday night at the SC Church of God Prayer Conference and have finished it. I have not been able to put it down. All ministers and laity alike need this book in their possession. I am going to be blogging each chapter this upcoming week as I start reading it again on Sunday.

Check out http://www.alifeworthlivingbook.com/ for more information and to order it. His blog which he is sharing with his sons is listed over on the side of my page. Check it out. I know you will be blessed.

Ministry in Postmodernism???

Postmodernism is a term that is being used to describe society. Postmodernism states that there is NO ABSOLUTE TRUTH. Truth is relative and is only what one perceives it to be.

It can be stressful to minister in this type of world. It is here that we see the church begin to implode. We have struggled to be relevant and have struggled evangelize. Churches are closing everyday b/c we have not attacked the situation. If anything we (the church) have fueled the fire of postmodernism with our statements and our workless faith. The world is telling society that God is dead, Postmodernism tells society that God is whatever you want it to be and the church for the past 20yrs or so have said to the world..."God doesn't move like He did in the good old days." We go onto say, "The power of God used to be so real in our churches and in our lives." What is this saying to society? What is this telling the postmodern world??? These statements tell society that they are right! God is dead and God is just whatever...This reminds me of Judges 2:10..."and there arose a generation after this that did not know the Lord and the works that He had done..."

It is "high time" to awake from this sleep that we have been in and be the Church triumphant!! Jesus said, "The gates of Hell will NOT prevail against the Church." We have stood around the Church and have defended it long enough. We must realize that we have not been called to defend the Church but to advance the Church. IT is Christ's job to defend it. He said that Hell would not prevail against it. He has called me and you to "GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!" You cannot go (advance) and stay (defend) all at the same time. We must tell the world that God still saves, sanctifies, fills with the Spirit, sets free from bondage, delivers, and heals. We must be a church that is full of signs and wonders. We have to tell a world that they can EXPERIENCE the God that we are serving and when they have tasted and see that He is good, they will come back and drink again! We must turn the postmodern question of "Who am I" into "WHOSE AM I"... "For it is in Him that we live and we move and we have our being.." Let us remember that if God be for us who can be against us...