tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199498801295166142024-02-20T23:58:17.021-05:00The RunnerMark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."The Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16785032621421602326noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-419949880129516614.post-4792924546207235272018-04-16T20:58:00.001-04:002018-05-18T07:43:58.132-04:00BLESSED AND NOT LUCKY Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17, the traditional date of death for Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland. The Feast day of Saint Patrick, actually and interestingly commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. This day is celebrated by attending parades, wearing shamrocks, wearing green, and even drinking Irish beer and whiskey that has been colored green, with many attending Catholic Mass or Service.<br />
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The shamrock was introduced into the St Patrick's Day tradition because it was a plant that was originally utilized by St. Patrick to remind him of the trinity due to its three-leaf formation. It was during the early 1900's or the early 20th century that the reference to the bible was completely eradicated from the historical account. This was a period in the history of the Irish that was filled with political unrest and famine. The Irish were considered one of the most unfortunate people in the world.<br />
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This was the period of time that the usual entrance of commercialism resulted in the shamrock being reduced from a reference to the Trinity to a symbol of Good Luck in order to sell greeting cards. <br />
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You should also remember the original Irish name for leprechauns who are figures of folklore is “lobaircin,” meaning “small-bodied fellow.”<br />
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Widespread belief in leprechauns generally stemmed from Celtic acceptance of fairies, tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. In Celtic folktales, leprechauns were cranky souls, responsible for mending the shoes of the other fairies. Though only minor figures in Celtic folklore, leprechauns were known for their trickery, which they often used to protect their private treasure. The belief was that if a person was lucky enough, these diminutive figures might be fooled into unavailing the location of their treasure. This sounds like many individuals in the world today that would utilize trickery to protect their treasure verses trusting God as well as those that would even seek to enjoy monetary gain obtained by trickery.<br />
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I am glad we are taught clearly from the word of God that we are blessed and it has nothing to with LUCK! God created giving so that we can be blessed. Giving was not created to get money for the church or for God, but it was created to remove selfishness and greed from our lives.<br />
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God told us that the quality of our heart is a function of what we are willing to support financially. In Matthew 6:21 we are told, “For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” This means your heart will be where you are willing to place your money. In Deuteronomy 30:19 we are told, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that you and your seed may live.”<br />
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This says that being blessed is a choice we all have that God has placed before each individual. We have chosen to be blessed and giving is the avenue through which God has created to facilitate blessings in our lives. We are all aware of the principle that says whatever you give, you are going to get more back in return. Consequently, once we learn to give we will be compelled to give good things so that more good things or blessings will accrue to our lives.<br />
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<b>We are blessed and not lucky, so let us commit to doing what is necessary to attract God's best into our lives!</b><br />
<div><br />
</div><div>-Bishop Tommie A. Murphy</div>_____________<br />
<script>var pfHeaderImgUrl = '';var pfHeaderTagline = '';var pfdisableClickToDel = 0;var pfHideImages = 0;var pfImageDisplayStyle = 'right';var pfDisablePDF = 0;var pfDisableEmail = 0;var pfDisablePrint = 0;var pfCustomCSS = '';var pfBtVersion='2';(function(){var js,pf;pf=document.createElement('script');pf.type='text/javascript';pf.src='//cdn.printfriendly.com/printfriendly.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(pf)})();</script><a href="https://www.printfriendly.com" style="color:#6D9F00;text-decoration:none;" class="printfriendly" onclick="window.print();return false;" title="Printer Friendly and PDF"><img style="border:none;-webkit-box-shadow:none;box-shadow:none;" src="//cdn.printfriendly.com/buttons/printfriendly-pdf-email-button-md.png" alt="Print Friendly and PDF"/></a>The Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16785032621421602326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-419949880129516614.post-71277337693486273052018-04-16T20:58:00.000-04:002018-05-18T07:41:47.815-04:00How Mentors Can Bless Your LifeOne of the most significant relationships that a person can experience is that of a mentor. A mentor serves a great purpose in the life of the person they are mentoring. Mentorship helps to prepare the person for various challenges that life will bring. They serve as a source of <b>guidance</b>, <b>correction</b>, and <b>encouragement</b>. The mentee have a model in living color to demonstrate how to be successful. What an honor and a privilege it is to have an individual who is connected to you that can help you navigate through difficult times. A mentor relationship can last for many years. I was instructed by my pastor 22 years ago to mentor 5 people and to be mentored by 3. The idea was that as I was pouring life into mentees, mentors were pouring life into me. I still serve as a mentor to 1 of the 5 mentees.<br />
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I would like to take this time to appreciate my mentors: Bishop Tommie Murphy, Pastor Wayne Johnson, and Pastor Craig Pickett. My life has been revolutionized by their decision to engage in selflessness and to be there for me when the need arose. I am blessed to have all 3 mentors currently connected to me. The Bible declares in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Pro+11%3A14&version=KJV" target="_blank">Proverbs 11:14 “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” </a><br />
<div><br />
</div><div>-Elder Edward M. Blevins</div><br />
<script>var pfHeaderImgUrl = '';var pfHeaderTagline = '';var pfdisableClickToDel = 0;var pfHideImages = 0;var pfImageDisplayStyle = 'right';var pfDisablePDF = 0;var pfDisableEmail = 0;var pfDisablePrint = 0;var pfCustomCSS = '';var pfBtVersion='2';(function(){var js,pf;pf=document.createElement('script');pf.type='text/javascript';pf.src='//cdn.printfriendly.com/printfriendly.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(pf)})();</script><a href="https://www.printfriendly.com" style="color:#6D9F00;text-decoration:none;" class="printfriendly" onclick="window.print();return false;" title="Printer Friendly and PDF"><img style="border:none;-webkit-box-shadow:none;box-shadow:none;" src="//cdn.printfriendly.com/buttons/printfriendly-pdf-email-button-md.png" alt="Print Friendly and PDF"/></a>The Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16785032621421602326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-419949880129516614.post-13946839473397119792018-04-16T20:57:00.000-04:002018-05-18T07:42:07.287-04:00How Giving Has Blessed My LifeIn America today, when people say they were blessed because of their giving money to the church they very often mean that because of their giving, God miraculously poured out money or some other valuable materials that they needed and/or wanted.<br />
I would agree that it is hard to give an example of someone in the Bible who was godly and materially wealthy, but was not a liberal giver. For example, in Genesis <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen+14&version=KJV" target="_blank">chapter 14</a>, Abram gave a tithe to the man of God and due to his giving of tithes and offerings; God gave him great material goods. But I'd like to look beyond the very valid examples like Abram, and focus on an additional blessing that comes to all of us, rich and poor, when we give unto the work of the Lord.<br />
One alternate translation I've heard for the word "Blessed" ("makarios" in Greek) is to be happy. <br />
One of the things that have caused me to believe in giving to God's churches has been the attitude I've witnessed when I would see my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents give to ministry. The happiness (or blessedness) you could see on their faces when they gave would make you think that someone just gave them a birthday gift. Yes, they knew that God would bless them materially if they maintained a liberal heart, but the immediate happiness they exuded had much to do with their joy in being able to share in supporting a godly ministry that they loved and believed in.<br />
God really doesn't need my money, but when I give to the godly ministry I'm affiliated with, it's as if I'm sharing my substance with Christ, the one whom I love and hold most dear above all relationships. Because of that love, when I give, my happiness (blessedness) is immediate and manifests before I receive any of the miracles of material blessings.<br />
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Regards,<br />
Shawn D. Jackson<br />
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The Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16785032621421602326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-419949880129516614.post-8766490142418402202018-02-20T09:09:00.002-05:002018-05-18T07:42:16.068-04:00Marriage Talks With The Murphys...Thirty-Six Years and Counting<div class="MsoNormal">-<b>How Many Years have you been Married? <o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
36 years and it will be thirty-seven years (May 16th at 3pm)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">-<b>What is the one thing that has kept you together this long? </b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Always keep the LORD in the center of everything you do. In any marriage it’s not about you. It’s no more <b>YOU</b> it’s <b>US</b>. We are one. When you’re saying something or doing something say sorry. It doesn’t take anything from you. It makes it better. The enemy is always there to kill steal and destroy. Give life to the marriage. HAVE FUN! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">-<b>What do you think is different now about marriage nowadays vs back then? </b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
You can write a book about that. From a generational stand point people in previous generations were more open to meeting people earlier in life. The commitment level was different; there was a more of a biblical view of marriage historical than it is now. The lifetime commitment is more prevalent back then than it is now. More people today are more interested in their PERSONAL happiness than in GODS’ happiness. That’s why I believe people do two things now, they wait longer to get married because they are interested in getting a career and being established and then the time they have left they are willing to devote to marriage. We that don’t understand is that time is your life is meant to be experienced with whomever you decide to spend the rest of your life with. There doesn’t seem to be an overwhelming commitment to marriage because they have established that they were doing well without the partner vs a covenant/a life. There’s more internally focused individual’s verses a focus on pleasing God in the context of your marriage. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>-What would you say to persons who are in engaged to be married? <o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><u><br />
</u></i> <i><u>Pastor</u></i>-The first advice is talk with your pastor, for the purpose of seeking Godly counsel, concerning marriage so that they understand or have an opportunity to clearly understand marriage and the biblical requirements (Ephesians 5:31) of being married. Parents should have influence but never authority. You always honor your parents but they don’t run your marriage YOU DO. (Ephesians 5:21).<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><u>1<sup>st</sup> Lady</u></i>-It’s very beneficial to be a member of a church and also to have counseling w/your pastor. You don’t want any hidden agendas. That way as your pastor is speaking with you, he's coming from the word to let you know why the different things are essential for your marriage. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">-<b>What does Love look like?</b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><u><br />
</u></i> <i><u>1<sup>st</sup> Lady</u></i>- God is love, it’s not about you.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Nobody has ever seen him; it’s doing the right things and always being considerate of the other person. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><u>Pastor</u></i>- God is Love. Nobody has ever seen God. So nobody really knows. If I had to give an answer then love looks like total and complete unselfishness. Always considering the other person before considering yourself. Love is an action word. Love is grace and truth.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>-If you could tell yourself anything when you first got married what would it be? <o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
All the things we’ve said in the interview. We didn’t know any of this stuff! Get counseling because we didn’t have it. Consider your spouse above yourself. Don’t be selfish. <u>Learn to love!</u><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>-How has God impacted your marriage thus far?<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><u><br />
</u></i> <i><u>Pastor</u></i>- My testimony is that God has literally revolutionized my approach to marriage. Before truly inviting God into my marriage I tried to conduct our marital relationship based on my view and not the biblical portrait of marriage. When I developed an understanding of the biblical view of marriage my marriage literally transformed. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><u>1<sup>st</sup> Lady</u></i>- Reading the Bible and knowing/learning what it is supposed to do. Being unselfish and being devoted and committed to God. Knowing who you are causes the transformation. Now you just are following the Bible according to marriage. When you do that you can always keep God First and you can’t go wrong with that. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">-<b>How do you exemplify Proverbs 4:23 in a marriage?<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><u><br />
</u></i> <i><u>1<sup>st</sup> Lady</u></i>-You know what you’re true feelings are, a lot of time the enemy comes in and plants doubt! Knowing who your spouse is; TRUST is important! If you’re always doubting or spectating where is the trueness of the person you are married too? Just be truthful about things especially about things that you feel. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><u>Pastor</u></i>- Guarding your heart is important. Your heart provides the foundation for everything that you do. It encourages us to always apply the word to our thoughts <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+4%3A7-8&version=KJV" target="_blank">Philippians 4:7-8</a>. To be mindful about the things that you dwell on. If you think negative things it will destroy; if you think positive things then you will thrive. Keep your heart. You don’t allow the enemy access to your heart. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+corinthians+10%3A15&version=KJV" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 10:5</a> whenever there are images in your mind that does not align with the word of God cast them out! That’s guarding your heart. Taking the thoughts that the enemy throws at you and casting them out. When the enemy does this they are thoughts that do not edify God or your marriage. You only want to allow the things you think to be those that align with the word of God. The battle for marriage or a successful marriage is won in the mind and in our thought life. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">-<b>Advice to singles.</b> <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><u><br />
</u></i> <i><u>Pastor</u></i>-Look for a person who is Godly, saved and active in ministry who’s life reflects a submission and adherence to the principles of God. First thing a young person should look for is a place in Ministry to be faithful to and serve whole heartedly. Submit yourselves whole heartedly to the kingdom of God. Ruth was found while working. While you are laboring to advance and to build the kingdom observe other persons like yourselves of the opposite sex that is visibly and demonstratively likeminded. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><u>1<sup>st</sup> Lady</u></i>- Look for someone that really going after God and being faithful <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><u>Pastor </u></i>- The biblical rules of engagement where relationships are concerned is that a man finds a wife; but for her to be able to respond to potential suitors. She has to give assessment to the individual that’s inquiring of their interest. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><u>1<sup>st</sup> Lady</u></i>- Good character.<o:p></o:p></div><br />
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<script>var pfHeaderImgUrl = '';var pfHeaderTagline = '';var pfdisableClickToDel = 0;var pfHideImages = 0;var pfImageDisplayStyle = 'right';var pfDisablePDF = 0;var pfDisableEmail = 0;var pfDisablePrint = 0;var pfCustomCSS = '';var pfBtVersion='2';(function(){var js,pf;pf=document.createElement('script');pf.type='text/javascript';pf.src='//cdn.printfriendly.com/printfriendly.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(pf)})();</script><a href="https://www.printfriendly.com" style="color:#6D9F00;text-decoration:none;" class="printfriendly" onclick="window.print();return false;" title="Printer Friendly and PDF"><img style="border:none;-webkit-box-shadow:none;box-shadow:none;" src="//cdn.printfriendly.com/buttons/printfriendly-pdf-email-button-md.png" alt="Print Friendly and PDF"/></a>The Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16785032621421602326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-419949880129516614.post-4897695490667828092018-02-20T09:09:00.001-05:002018-05-18T07:42:24.249-04:00Dinner With The Blevins<span style="color: #001000;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; border-top: 0px none rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;"><div style="border-top: 0px none rgb(51, 51, 51); padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">Blevins</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">-<b style="overflow: visible;">How Many years have you been Married</b>? </span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">Twenty-two and a half, twenty-three years on <u>June 30</u>!</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">-<b style="overflow: visible;">What is the one thing that has kept you together this long</b>?</span><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><br />
</span></u></i> <i><u><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">Miss'y</span></u></i><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">- Our desire for one another and relationship with God.</span><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">Elder</span></u></i><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">- Both are number one and being committed to the institution of marriage that God ordained.</span><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">-</span><b>What do you think is different now about marriages or people getting married nowadays verses when people got married back then?</b><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><br />
</span></u></i> <i><u><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">Elder</span></u></i><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">- Not a difference but more so people not staying together.</span><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">Miss'y</span></u></i><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">- Marriage used to be sacred, people don't stick it out. It was taught that you stay because that's marriage. There’s also a </span><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">lack</span><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"> of commitment to the institution of marriage, they approach it with a selfish mindset, if they don't get what they want then it's over verses my job is to serve you as a spouse as unto God.</span><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">-<b style="overflow: visible;">What would you say to persons who are in engaged to be married?</b></span><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><br />
</span></u></i> <i><u><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">Elder</span></u></i><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">- Understand that marriage is a lifetime commitment not a sentence, YOU CHOOSE out of your own will to enter into marriage.</span><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">Miss’y</span></u></i><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">- There are no back doors, you can't go in looking for a way out.</span><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b style="overflow: visible;"><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">-If you could tell your self anything when you first got married, what would it be?</span></b><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><u><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><br />
</span></u></i> <i style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><u><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">Elder</span></u></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "quot" , serif;">- You don't always get out the deal what YOU want. It’s not about you; don't engage in this thing selfish. The way you get what you want is giving the other person what they want. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6%3A38&version=KJV" target="_blank">Luke 6:38</a> "Give unto others as you would have them give unto you." <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+7:1-16" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 7:3</a> "The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and like wise the wife to her husband.". <u>Marriage is a covenant not a contract.</u> You engage as if it is a commitment not a contract. And that you remain committed to the covenant in spite of the experience.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "quot" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">-<b style="overflow: visible;">How has God impacted your marriage thus far?</b></span><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><br />
</span></u></i> <i><u><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">Miss’y</span></u></i><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">- He makes ways out of no way</span><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: quot; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">Elder</span></u></i><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif;">- "The husband of the article declares this: that as a result of his wife's faithfulness and commitment to God his level of trust and faith in God has increased." <b style="overflow: visible;"><span style="font-size: large;">SO REMEMBER GOD FIRST!</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "quot" , serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div><br />
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The Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16785032621421602326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-419949880129516614.post-54198465413489733752018-02-20T09:08:00.001-05:002018-05-18T07:42:40.526-04:00A Conversation with The James'<div style="background-color: transparent; border-top: 0px none rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">-<b>How long have you all been married?</b><b style="font-weight: 400;"> </b><br />
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39 years!</div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span> <br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: none; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br style="background: none; color: #333333; margin: 0px; overflow: visible;" /></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span> <br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: none; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">-<b>What do you think is different now about marriages or people getting married now a days verses when people got married back then? </b></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span> <br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: none; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
The culture is different, everything is rushed! This generation has a different idea of what marriage is. The morals are different. People valued marriage more 40 years ago. Men aren't in the home as much as they used to be, because men haven't grown up with their father's. The father taught the morals necessary for men today. We don't have a lot of that today. My son actual thanked me for being there as a father because my son worked with children who didn't have fathers and they had a lot of dysfunction in their lives. Also because of the lack of father's being in the home young men can't learn from them and in return don't know how to treat the young ladies. They respect the house of God. People act or react real quick. They don't want to wait. They didn't have marriage counseling back then either. </div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span> <br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: none; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br style="background: none; color: #333333; margin: 0px; overflow: visible;" /></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span> <br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: none; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">-<b>What do you think is one thing that made your marriage last this long? </b></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span> <br />
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Keeping God First and Great communication with one another. Faith in Jesus Christ. If I want to please God then I have to please my wife/husband. Our foundation in Jesus Christ is what sustained us. We raised our kids in the church. We relied solely on God. Church is very important for the Family. The enemy's goal is to destroy the foundation of family. We raised our kids richly because we raised them in the Lord. And our kids say all the time that they appreciate that. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+22%3A6&version=KJV" target="_blank">Proverbs 22:6</a> "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" </div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span> <br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: none; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br style="background: none; color: #333333; margin: 0px; overflow: visible;" /></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span> <br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: none; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">-<b>What would you tell an engaged or dating couple today?</b> </div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span> <br />
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Seek the counseling from your pastor, keep things between each other, put God First, always encourage one another. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+11%3A14&version=KJV" target="_blank">Proverbs 11:14</a> "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety" Pray about it. Don't rush. Ask and Seek God. The wedding is minute compared to the life you'll spend with your mate. </div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span> <br />
<div style="background: none; color: #333333; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><u style="text-decoration-line: none;"><i>Dating couples: </i></u>observe how the parents are, you can learn everything by observing the people around them before you decide to move forward with that person. <u>Biblical portrait of marriage is your goal. Don't compromise to marry or be with anybody. </u></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span> <br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: none; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br style="background: none; color: #333333; margin: 0px; overflow: visible;" /></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span> <br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: none; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br style="background: none; color: #333333; margin: 0px; overflow: visible;" /></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span> <br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: none; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>-How has God impacted your marriage thus far? </b></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span> <br />
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Kept us together, we didn't know what marriage was at first. God taught us how to be and stay together. The Bible teaches us how to love our wives/husbands. My wife is my best friend. Having that relationship with God has kept us. I don't want to displease the Lord so I never wanted to mistreat her. Praying for one another. Encouraging one another. It's just gets sweeter and sweeter everyday.</div><br />
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The Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16785032621421602326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-419949880129516614.post-35147562445290375082018-01-15T19:20:00.000-05:002018-05-18T07:42:50.817-04:00In The Words Of Bishop Tommie A. Murphy<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On November 12, 2017, I was blessed to be consecrated to the office of Bishop in the Churches of God in Christ. This is the second largest Pentecostal church in the United States and it is arguably the largest Pentecostal church in the world.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Church of God in Christ is second in the United States in size by membership to the Assemblies of God Churches, which as you all know was birthed out of the Churches of God in Christ.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">These facts among others clearly make this episcopal ascendency a significant honor. I have been a part of this church since February 1978, when I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. It was several months after this when I was attending UNC-Asheville as a first semester college student, and serving in the church as a deacon, the Lord spoke to me one Friday night and told me that if<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>”I took care of HIS business, HE would take care of my business.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">I committed to obeying God's voice and since that day the Lord has continued to do great things in my life. I experienced elevation and promotion both secularly and in the episcopacy. I mention this because of the imperative (necessity) to convey that this blessing is certainly not something I would say I deserve, but a position I would declare I am able to experience by the grace of God!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">This ascension means that I will continue to serve my leader, Bishop LeRoy Jackson Woolard, the Prelate of Greater North Carolina Jurisdiction in my current capacity as one of his Administrative Assistants, Greater North Carolina Jurisdictional Chief Financial Officer(CFO) and as the Superintendent of the E. C. Cannon Memorial District. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">This, as all things that happen in my life positively, I give God ALL the Glory!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has certainly been one of the most humbling experiences of my life, and I thank God for the entire New Bethel Church family for making this moment for my wife, daughters, and me so incredibly precious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
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The Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16785032621421602326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-419949880129516614.post-29072206826760711742018-01-15T19:18:00.000-05:002018-05-18T07:43:04.689-04:00FROM THE DESK OF: LADY DORIS MURPHY<div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: black;">The New Year</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I am looking forward to 2018 because I believe it will be a year of new beginnings. This means that anything we know that has been held from us as well as anything lack of personal success we feel we experienced in 2017 can be viewed as an expectation in the upcoming New Year.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We all have an opportunity to embark upon a fresh start which can and will ultimate result in a victorious season this New Year! We should all be sitting on the edge of our seats expecting great things in this season because the Lord said in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalms+84%3A11&version=KJV" target="_blank">Psalm 84:11</a>, “no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">I also want to note that the year 2018 includes the numbers 1 and 8 and when added together it equals 9! The number 9 is symbolic for birthing and since new birth is always a new beginning, this further suggests that the year will be a time of new starts for the saints. I would admonish you all to receive this word which is simply; you are not on a course for failure, but rather a course for success! This is your season to give birth!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">Take a moment to reflect on all the shortcomings that you’ve experienced this past year and all the things you may feel that you’ve failed at and or given up on. In remembering this, recognize that this new season will produce the victory you expected before but even greater! You can simply consider the issues you had that did not produce as false labor or mere labor pains. However, this new season will be a time of actual birth for the vision or dream you had.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Let us join together in our journey forward to accomplish all that we know God has in store for our lives in 2018! </span></div><br />
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The Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16785032621421602326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-419949880129516614.post-59225244872482185852018-01-15T19:15:00.004-05:002018-05-18T07:43:12.284-04:00Why F.A.S.T.? (Focus, Afresh, Submission, Transformation)<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In today’s hectic, “hurry-up climate,” it is easy to get preoccupied with to-do lists, family and job demands, and even Kingdom service. But in all of our haste to complete out day to day task, we often lose track of the one thing that is needed, or as Jesus put it to Martha in </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+10%3A42&version=KJV" style="font-size: 11pt;" target="_blank">Luke 10, verse42,</a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> the "better part."</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">The "better part" is developing intimacy with the Lord, keeping Him at the center of our lives, knowing Him and being known by Him. It can be a challenge but once we cultivate our relationship with Him, we will discover a greater satisfaction, fullness, and balance to our lives in a way that we have never experienced before. This type of behavior will make it easy for us to push everything aside and seek the face of the Lord!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">God has given us two means of accomplishing this goal of getting into His presence: fasting (which demonstrates that we bring our bodies into subjection) and praying (which demonstrates our faith in God's willingness and ability to manifest the promise in our lives). These are two powerful tools to prepare us to receive His presence. We will be able to access all that He has planned for our lives, as well as develop a deeper commitment and connection to Christ in our personal walks with Him. Our declaration should always be, "more of You Lord and less of me.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">Annually at New Bethel, we consecrate (set apart) ourselves for the 1st 21 days for fasting, praying and giving (which demonstrates our gratitude/thanksgiving every time the Lord's Word becomes revelation.) The Bible teaches that believers are to give their first and best to God. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+3%3A9&version=KJV" target="_blank">Proverbs3:9 </a>says, "Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase" and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+3%3A10&version=KJV" target="_blank">verse 10</a> gives the promise when we are obedient and that promise says: "So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." Saints of God, when we put God first in every area of our lives, our families, our finances, along with everything else he has promised to us will be released to us due to our commitment and obedience. If we will pray and seek God and give Him our first and best at the beginning of the year, what would keep Him from honoring that sacrifice and bless the entire year?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+11%3A16&version=KJV" target="_blank">Romans11:16</a> tell us "For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches." </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">I encourage you to ask yourself, 'What am I allowing to come between me and God's presence?' and then join us as we devote ourselves to seeking God and His will for our lives during our 2018 21-Day Consecration journey. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">Start the year off right and discover the rewards of "God - 1st."</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>410</o:Words> <o:Characters>2341</o:Characters> <o:Company>New Bethel Ministries</o:Company> <o:Lines>19</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>2746</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>14.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">-<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Missionary Lisa Murphy </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></div><br />
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The Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16785032621421602326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-419949880129516614.post-39754389751570262202018-01-15T19:12:00.002-05:002018-05-18T07:43:24.814-04:00Legal Matters Concerning The Church<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><u><span style="color: black;">With titles comes great responsibility</span></u></b></div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black;">Often, we think of titles being bestowed upon leaders in the body: Bishop, superintendent, pastor, missionary, etc. However, titles belong to the workers in ministry that do not receive as much notice: the cook, the greeter, the volunteer -even the janitor; these too are titles. No matter the label, the duty of care owed to the body and the ministry, is of the same weight. Whether the bishop breaches that duty, or the janitor breaches that duty – the detrimental affects to the <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>church are the same. This means that it is imperative to take your title and obligatory work in the church very serious.</span></div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black;">“The risk of litigation should never impede the ministries of the church; but to ignore the very real dangers would be naive and equally wrong.”-Jon McLanahan</span></div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black;">According to tort law, a “duty of care” is defined as a legal obligation, which is imposed on an individual requiring an adherence to a standard of reasonable care while performing any acts that could foreseeable harm others. Each of us that belong to an auxiliary owe a duty of care to the body while working. Whenever you fail to uphold that duty, the church is almost helplessly exposed to great risk of litigation. This means that doing your particular job with no zeal or carelessly is not only a disservice to The Lord - but you stand to be the reason why the church suffers legally. Not only is it about how you fulfill your assignment, but when. Merely failing to show up when you are on duty could result in trouble.</span></div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><span style="color: black;">Here’s how:</span></b></div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black;">In 2010, <a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/831634/dadd-v-mount-hope-church/" target="_blank">Dadd v. Mount Hope Church</a> and International Outreach Ministries was decided and the Court found in favor of the plaintiff. At the end of service, per usual, an alter call was made. Dadd, the plaintiff, went to the altar to receive prayer, and while being “slain in the spirit” fell and injured herself. She then filed suit against the church. The church argued that there was no way they could assign an Usher to each individual that responds to the alter call to watch over them while they pray in case they fall. Although the court agreed that that would be an unreasonable expectation, they found that the church breached their duty of care because they were aware of the possibility of injury to those who answered the altar call and should have had, and normally had ushers in place to assist participants. On this particular Sunday, THERE WERE NO USHERS IN PLACE. Do you see how the absence of one Usher affected the whole church?</span></div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black;">Sometimes we think that because we are not in the forefront, or that since the title we hold receives little to no acclaim, that it will not make a difference how or when we fulfill our duties. But this could not be further from the truth. The church is one of the most, if not the most, vulnerable organizations. There is almost infinite risk exposure. Every person working in the ministry has a duty of care. Often the reasons are obvious for auxiliaries such as the nurse’s board, the security team and the transportation team; but even musicians owe a duty of care!</span></div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><span style="color: black;">WHAT CAN YOU DO?</span></b></div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black;">Glad you asked. The Bible tells us in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+9%3A10&version=KJV" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes 9:10</a>, whatever your hands find to do, do it WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT. This does not mean to just do whatever, whenever. But take up your task with dignity and with a spirit of excellence. First and most importantly because your service is unto your God, The Most High - and we would never want to present to Him something that is of no value to us. But second, because we do not want our service to become a hindrance to the House of God. There’s a reason The Lord implores us to work diligently and efficiently. It is because we are made in His image and He is excellent, but also because when we do so according to His instruction, we are protected from the snares of litigation and looming risk that lies in every area of operating a successful ministry. Conduct quarterly meetings to identify all risks involved in operating your auxiliary. You should brainstorm with your team all possible situations where a person could be injured or property damaged - even if it seems unlikely to occur. Once the risks are identified, plan how to avoid or minimize those risks (i.e. with waivers, release forms, signs, etc.). Discuss these issues with your leaders. We want to leave no room for the enemy to attempt to derail or distract us from our overall mission for Christ.</span></div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">-Tylar Johnson</span></div></div></div><style>
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