Tuesday, September 9 , 08 by admin.

Wow!

 A lot has happened since my last post.  The first of June, I began working with the two men on staff at the conference office to plant CrossPointe Church in Gibson County TN.

We have been building the church planting team with the goal of launching the church by Sept. 21st.  We are still on target to have the Grand Opening Celebration on Sunday, Sept. 21.

God has alos been blessing the Church Health Network Meetings.  We have seen positive movement in CHN.   We have had two churches join the Conference, One new church planted and we are working with several churches (about 10) who are in the process of revitalization.

More Later.

 Ron

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Saturday, April 12 , 08 by admin.

At a recent CHN (Church Health Network) meeting the Lord gripped my heart concerning the incredible need to share the Love of God with others.  As Coach Dale Wilson spoke I was reminded of a short addition to one of my papers in Grad School. I have included it here to remind me again of the fact that I am my brothrs keeper. 

“Jesus did not suffer torture and an agonizing death on the cross of Calvary so the church could sit around and watch their neighbors die without God and suffer eternal death in a lake of fire!  He not only died for you and I but He died for our neighbors, our Children’s bus driver, the grocery clerk, the one sacking your groceries, our Dr. our mother, son, daughter, niece and nephews.    He died for our co-workers, our neighbors, the bag lady and the homeless man or woman standing at the intersection with a sign.   He died for the little white girl and the little black girl and for the little girl that’s not sure which culture to be a part of. 

I do not understand how a Christian can sit by and watch everyone around them slip into eternity without telling them about Jesus all the while tryng to claim that they Love their neighbor!  If we are Christians and we are not telling the world about Jesus, we will be judged. How can we stand before our alters, behind our pews and behind our pulpits and declare our love for Christ?  

How can we sing Hymns and praise songs and declare our love for Jesus while those he gave his life for die all around us without us making every effort to rescue them from the flames of perdition?  How can we sing rescue the perishing and then coldly walk by them without so much as an outstretched hand?  How can we truly believe in a torturous fiery flaming eternal place of everlasting torment called Hell and turn our face from those around us and let them slip into that horrible place?  Is it because we are afraid of what they will say? 

Why aren’t we grasping at their hands and arms and hearts to try to pull them from that horrible place?  Why aren’t we weeping and calling on God to help us witness in the power of the Holy Spirit?  Why are our hearts not broken as we hear the perverse, nasty, Godless, murderous lyrics full of the glorification of rape, incest, violence and murder? Is our conscience seared as with a hot iron?

Oh God arrest our hearts;  Place within us the truth that we are our brothers keeper.  Give us passion for the lost. Let our hearts burn within us.  Keep us up at night with visions of the flames of fire and torment.  Let us not just sing about rescuing the perishing.  Dear God let us be a life giving church with a life giving God preaching a life giving message about the life giving love of our life giving Savior.  In Christ Jesus’ Name I pray.”

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Sunday, January 27 , 08 by admin.

Dear Prayer Partners

I wanted to take a few minutes and evaluate what I believe to be much of the value so far of the fast.  I say so far, because I am sure that the spiritual implications of what God has done in me through this fast is just beginning.

Physically:

I am still reaping the benefits of the fast physically.  I am continuing to check my sugar and it is amazing how it has remained so low.  My morning sugar check continues to average below 100!  (Except for one morning - I had a large bowl of buttered popcorn late night, the night before.)

I gained back 7 lbs. almost immediately. (within the first two days) I went from 200 to 207.  As of this morning, Jan 27th. I am back down to 204.  Also another messup.  I didn’t break the fast as I should have,  and I paid for it!   Today I am still down 30 lbs. and have a real determination to go below 200 within the next few days.

I feel better, am tempted to jog a little in my morning walks and allow myself to do so, moderately.

Spiritually:

Breakthrough is a good word.  I continue to pray for the Lords guidance daily.  I am jealous of my prayer and Bible study time now and protect it. 

I have seen breakthrough in several areas.

1.   New Conference direction and clarified mission.

2.   Clarification of a new “Simple Church” Model for ministry on the Conference level.    This includes a clear and simple Mission - Movement Process in the Conference that I believe will be a really good track  for us.

3.   We hired a new position on the Conference staff.  A Church and Pastor’s Coach.  Rev. Dale Wilson was the Executive Pastor @ Friendship World Outreach and responsible for implementation of the church strategies that took the church from under 200 to 800 in weekly attendance.  Coach Dale knows growth to that level, from the inside out and will be very valuable as we begin our Church and Pastor Coaching and Consulting. 

4.  We are soon to implement parts of Paul Borden’s (Hit the Bullseye) strategy in the Conference, “as mentioned in item

My routine is a little bit of a struggle.  During the fast there was a core purpose to stick with the routine.  I see the need to shift the core purpose to spiritual communion as the core of my morning.  It must become my continued time for prayer, meditation on scripture and study of the Word of God.  My daily quest is to “See what the Lord will say to me”.

My prayer.

Dear Father,  don’t let our passion wane.  Do not allow us to “settle back in” to the life we were living before the fast.  Keep us focused on you.  I know if we “Seek first the Kingdom of God and your righteousness all these other things will be added to us.  I believe!

Bishop Ron

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Monday, January 21 , 08 by admin.

Dear Prayer Partners

Today is the final day of my juice fast.  Yesterday (Day 20)  Was a great day.  APC Chose a Pastor.  They had two really  is great men to choose from.  Either would have done a fine job as pastor.  I believe that they really prayed and made the choice they felt was from the Lord.

I am sensing the guidance of the Holy Spirit more and more.  I am still hearing the Word; Breakthrough.  I know that a great breakthrough is coming both personally and for the Conference.  This fast has been a life change for me. 

Today is a holiday and my youngest daughter, her husband and the two grand children have been here visiting with us.  It has been a good day.  My son in law noticed that I hadn’t eaten and asked a lot of questions about fasting.  He is a great guy and I believe that God has a call on his life.

Tomorrow my fasting posts will conclude with the most important things that I have learned and what I believe the Lord has spoken to me for the future.  The blog will be concentrating on Leadership, Coaching and Church Growth after the fast as well as any updates that I believe are connected with the fast.

Physically

I have lost 34 lbs.  The Lord has really convicted me during this fast concerning our bodies being the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  I know that I can no longer abuse my body by being overweight or allowing my body to be in bad physical condition.

My prayer.

Dear Lord. Do not allow me to go back to business as usual.  Help me to walk in newness and in step with the Spirit of Life. Let me continue to grow closer to you.  Allow this to be a beginning and not a one time event in my life.  Bless my prayer partners in these things as well.  In Jesus Name.  I believe!

Bishop Ron

P.S. You may also register to this blog.  Registering allows you to post comments and receive e-mail notifications when I write a new Post to this blog.  Click on the register link under the Meta Links on the left of the page.

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Saturday, January 19 , 08 by admin.

Dear Prayer Partners

Well the fast is quickly winding down. I have already been truly blessed.  Our conference has also been blessed.  I am exploring the possibility of adding a staff member to coach churches in the area of growth.

I truly believe I would not have been ready for this move if I hadn’t been on my 21 day juice fast.  This fast has truly been life changing for me.  I do not use that term lightly.

I keep hearing the Lord speak “Breakthrough”.  I believe that I am in the beginnings of real breakthrough.  I have been trying to see the small things and the gentle voices during this fast.

There have been no flashing lights, or big winds for me during this fast.  I really didn’t know what to expect so I just listen and pray. I want to remember to listen for the still small voice as this fast comes to an end.  Well Day is over.  Day 20 dawns.  I am looking forward to a little “solid” food but I am so grateful for the Spiritual Manna the Lord has been sharing with me.

You are in my prayers

Bishop Ron

P.S. You may also register to this blog.  Registering allows you to post comments and receive e-mail notifications when I write a new Post to this blog.  Click on the register link under the Meta Links on the left of the page.

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