Leadership Retreat!!!
I just got back home from an incredible day and a half retreat with the greatest leadership team in San Antonio. The leadership team from our church traveled to Spicewood, TX where we came together to share, learn, grow, be challenged and just have a blast with eachother. We were able to do all of that and more. One of the great moments that we shared was a time where we let down our hair and had a great time doing Karaoke. Some sang well, others not so well; but all had fun.
We invited a great man of God to come and just pour into our lives and challenge us to be all that God intends for us to be. For me, the most impacting moment of the entire retreat was when Pastor Carlos Ramos, our guest speaker, asked all of us to find two people and to go to them and ask them these questions: 1) What are some of my strenghts? 2) What are some of my weaknesses? I have to admit that I was a little intimidated to go up to people and ask them what they thought some of my weaknesses were. But we have such a great leadership team that people were able to trust eachother and know that what was being said was being said in love and with respect. What an eye opening experience. We were able to see ourselves through someone else’s eyes and it revealed areas where we need to improve and correct. 
There were also a select group of ladies that decided to play a practical joke on me and cover the door handle to my room with toothpase and shampoo. I have to admit, they got me good. But let me just say to my sisters in Christ, “This Means WAR!!!”
To all of the leadership team of Bethesda, I want to say thank you for all you do. You are an incredible group of people who genuinely love God and love His people. There will never be a way to repay you for all you do, but I know that you do it as unto the Lord. It is truly an honor to serve the Lord and to serve our church along side each and every one of you. To our pastors, thank you for loving and valueing your leaders enough to invest in us and to allow us to be ministered to and challenged in our lives and in our ministries. I love you Bethesda and I am convinced that the Best Is Yet To Come!
Voices in the Wind!!!!
This week, I have had conversations with various people. These are people dealing with various issues and dilemas in life. But in each of these conversations, I have noticed one thing that they have in common. I have noticed that these individuals have begun to listen to different voices. No, they are not scitsophrenic and hearing voices in their heads, but they are listening to different people’s ideas, thoughts, interpretations and doctrines.
Becuase these individuals have given ear to all these different voices in the wind, they have become confused and have even made decisions that have taken them off course. The moment they began to listen to these voices, some of people who were well intentioned but still wrong, confusion set it, doubt crept in and decisions were made based on what these voices said. Some of the voices were friends, co-workers and in some cases even other “Christians”, but the voices were wrong.
As I spoke with these people and heard their stories, I realized just how important it is that as true believers, we recognize and know the voice of God. We need to be convinced that what God says in His word is absolute truth; it is truth no matter what! We need to learn to recognize the voice of God’s Spirit when He speaks to us. If we do not learn to discern His voice, we will pay attention to all the voices in the wind. We may believe lies and fall for things that sound right but lead to destruction. There are many voices in the wind, but the one voice that I am to recognize, hear and obey is the voice of God.
What are your thoughts?
The Stage Is Being Set!
Unless you have lived in a cave without access to the world, you are well aware that our nation is in what is being called an “economic crisis”. Very few people may be able to fully explain or even understand what all this economic crisis entails but there is no doubt that it’s effects are being felt in every state, city and community of our nation. But this week we have seen and taken notice that this crisis is no longer just affecting the United States but it has now become a “global economic crisis”.
As a matter of fact, this week finance leaders from Canada, Japan, Italy, France, Germany, Britain and the prime minister of Luxembourg all met in Washington DC to examine and address this global crisis. It has been noted in various posts and articles written in the past few days that never before have we seen what we are seeing right now. This reach of the economic meltdown is wide and widening even more daily. But in these talks and meetings this week, something was said that realy got my attention.
Yesterday, Friday, October 10, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said political leaders are discussing the idea of closing the world’s financial markets while they “rewrite the rules of international finance.” It has been noted that some are playing with the idea of closing the individual national markets and going to one global world market. This immediately begins to smell like a set up to me.
Is it possible that what we are experiencing right now with this economic situation is actually serving to set the stage for the fulfillment of prophecy and for the rise of the anti-Christ? It is clear in scripture that there will be a global economic system during the tribulation period. Are we living in a moment where all the preparations for that to happen are occurring? I believe we are. I believe that we are living in a moment in history that was spoken about and prophesied about thousands of years ago.
Open your eyes. See what is before us. The stage is being set. The characters are arriving on the scene. It’s not time to fear, but it is time to prepare. It is time make sure that you are in right standing with God. It is time to examine our hearts and lives and to fix what needs to be fixed. Christ is about to return for His bride. I can almost see the Lord as he listens to the Father say, “Get Ready. Get Set.” And I can imagine that He is anxiously awaiting that final command of “GO!”
Day of Rest
WOW! The past few weeks have been intense. I have had a stretch of being so busy that I have had little time for myself. I’ve been pulled and stretched in what feels llike a thousand different directions with little to no break. But today, that all changed. As I speak, it is 12 noon and I am still in bed. No, I haven’t been sleeping all morning, but I have been resting and relaxing. I spent my morning reading, watching news television, and I even had breakfast in bed! It was great (even if it was breakfast from Jack In The Box).
This past weekend, I finished some obligations that I had and finally today felt as if I could take a breather. So that is exactly what I am doing. Tonight, I teach a class and tomorrow is a loooong day preparing for RAW. But today, it’s break time.
Because of the past hectic weeks, I have not had the chance to write many posts on this blog but I am hoping that I can begin to share thoughts and experiences again with whomever wishes to take the time to read. Anyway, just wanted to say that I’m back and to encourage all those that have been busy and have experienced a hectic week or a hectic few weeks as I have to take a breather and enjoy a day of rest as soon as you possibly can.
