Thirsty Thursday – Clear Clean Cups – The Cleanliness That is Truly Godliness, Not Next to It

Luke 11:38-39  And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.  (39)  And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

We are to live inside out and turn the world upside down – which is truly right side up!

I learned. It used to tick my father off if I left the water constantly running from the faucet when it was my turn to wash the dishes. Instead of turning the faucet on and off for long periods of time, I learned to used one of the dirty cups or bowls and clean the inside of it. Then I would put warm soapy water and a wash cloth in it. Then I would soap up, in order, the other cups, bowls, dishes, utensils, etc. After completing the cleansing of everything else, then I would clean the cup with the soapy water that was already in it. I finally, rinse everything soupy and neatly stack everything on the dish rack. However, the cups and glasses…get this…I ensured were upside down…so that what was inside would leave no spots…suffice it to say this pleased my father. His smile was a greater compliment than words…dish washing and water conservation 101…

We are to live inside out and turn the world upside down – which is truly right side up! We communicate that way in all aspects – speaking of living inside out. Out of abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. From out of our heart, which in my B. C. spoken word days I used to call our infinite midpoint, our character and motives power and propel our expressions – word, gesture, deed, action and non-action.  The commitment to true cleanliness must be from our core. It must not be confused with vanity which is a perverse outside-in pseudo-cleanliness. That is what JESUS is claiming of the Pharisees. They were more about appearances than holiness, perception than reality. It is like an adolescent shoving everything under the bed… or cologne on stink. Legalism, materialism, vanity, nit-picking others, micromanaging and the gamut of idolatrous mascara that we use to make ourselves look good are the same as putting cologne on stink…we needed cleaning

Pastor A. R. Bernard's talk about wisdom last night with the Advanced Team of the International Christian Brotherhood contained a gem that he has inculcated during Sunday service several times before but nails the issue on the head.  He said to us:

“You can sound good but [it is hypocritical if] your life does not match up. Those who lust truth want to make it a part of their appearance. Those who love truth want to make it part of their character”

We are to live inside out and turn the world upside down! We love JESUS, who is the Truth! We have been washed by Blood of CHRIST inside-out…Hallelujah! We are being cleaned internally to be filled with what will be used to clean others…We are set upside down through sanctification after being rinsed by the Word to not only be counted as spotless but to be used…Hallelujah to be filled…and emptied and filled…only the Blood of JESUS can clean us clean enough…only through the rinsing sanctification of The SPIRIT and inverted placement to remain spotless can our Heavenly FATHER smile on us and lift us up and use us and sip from us and refill us…Hallelujah! This type of clean is godliness, imputed not man-ufactured…we are humbled not arrogant that the PARACLETE is call alongside us. Cleanliness is not next to godliness. It is godliness. It is HIM in us willing and doing HIS good purpose. He has made us new, knowing the world is attracted to shiny new things…HE has cleaned us and is cleaning us so other can be cleaned and rinsed and used…speak clean, live clean, walk clean, work clean, pray clean, preach clean and Hallelujah evangelize clean…in JESUS name…

We are to live inside out and turn the world upside down – which is truly right side up!

I love YOU and I love you

Brother Jeremy A. Maynard

Watchful Witness Wednesday 10-19-2011

Quotes:

The best two ears for listening to GOD are your open and submitted heart and your open and studied Bible – Brother Jeremy A. Maynard

Your heart is the shape and size of your closed fist. With it are you grasping truth in humility or are you clutching self-absorption in pride? I admonish that you hold fast to that which is true – Brother Jeremy A. Maynard

Watching and Praying

Heavenly FATHER,

In light of Grace and Mercy, we thankfully approach YOU in all humility with the eyes of our faith wide and transfixed on YOUR Sovereign Goodness…we thank YOU ABBA for the stability and equipoise of YOUR love and forgiveness. We confess and YOU have forgive our sins of commission and omission…of overt and covert action…of arrogant over-aggressiveness and docile complacency…of making our work an idol and our over-entertained laziness…of pseudo-pious legalism and rudderless rebellion…Hallelujah…the Cross is a leveler and the bubble of the holiness of YOUR Will is central! For YOU alone can make the crook ways straight! Now we are free…free…free and unfettered to observe, discern an seek YOUR face in life, which is prayer without ceasing! Hallelujah! By leading of the HOLY SPIRIT unto testimony and the finished pouring out of CHRIST, we are victorious over-comers…more than conquerors! We watch, pray and can do all things through CHRIST – powerfully, lovingly by YOUR wisdom! Help us to maintain our families as we serve YOU! Help us to stand while those in judicial high seats of scorn ‘legally’ graffiti the palatial edifice of YOUR design. Strengthen us to fervency in the active and directive involvement of the futures of our children modeling and subordinating responsibility. Help us to display generational honor, where our elders are esteemed…not just in our family and the church but in the community…we love you LORD and thank YOU for YOUR peace, wisdom, joy, faithfulness, holiness and love in JESUS name…Amen  

Thought Sparks: Minister Did You Notice?

Have you noticed: Judges are making law regarding the family in opposition to GOD and the Constitution and ruling that children are to be taken away from Christian parent worldwide? Let us pray for an out-breaking contagion of family worship, where families minister to and with other families beyond the walls of our church homes…

http://www.lineoffireradio.com/2011/10/19/dr-brown-interviews-attorneys-rena-linavaldsen-and-scott-lively/

Have you noticed:  The arrogant and nonchalant yell of some teens and young adults who act out even in church, who need encouragement and responsibility to help them mature? Let us pray for, pray with, listen to and love on them consistently…

Have you noticed: That with so many younger people struggling that our seniors and golden saint are being ignored in society? Let us honoring the elders, pray with our elders, run errands for and visit our elder…we may glean some real wisdom and quality friendship

I love YOU and I love you

Brother Jeremy A. Maynard 

Trivia, Terminology and Tough Question Tuesday 10-18-2011

Trivia:

Who was the disciple named Thaddeus in the Twelve Disciples?

Thaddeus was the son of James and was also called Judas or Lebbaeus. He is known as the Helper of the hopeless and desperate cases. He is either the young half brother, cousin or childhood friend of CHRIST. He was the other Judas, not to be confused with Judas Ischariot, who betrayed CHRIST. He instead was the Judas who asked JESUS the following question in John 14:22: Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?” [NLT] Thaddeus was martyred by crucifixion at Edessa. He is called one of the brethren of the LORD in Matthew 13:55. He was led by the HOLY SPIRIT to write the Epistle of Jude [the short one chapter second-to-last book in the Bible], where he warns us to beware of heretics

The Apostle Thaddeus aka Jude

Terminology: Doctrine vs. Dogma

Doctrine (Latin)
Something taught, usually principles, tenets, creeds or beliefs. Doctrine is usually presented in some type of official form but also may not be stated in an organized manner. Doctrine is usually considered to be a systematic and carefully worked out principle or belief.
Resources On This Site: DOCTRINE

Dogma (Latin)
Something taught, usually principles, tenets, creed or beliefs. Dogma is usually an official, established belief or principle that is handed down from a higher authority and declared to be true or binding. It is similar to doctrine, however it may be more arbitrary and not have any relationship to a systematic or carefully worked out principle or belief. The term connotes a decree or order, as an arbitrary or arrogant belief, that is imposed on adherents rather than accepted by them. 

Taken from: http://www.ondoctrine.com/00dictio.htm

Doctrine is humbly lived and trained; while dogma is legalistically imposed. Be careful of those who try to pull you away from doctrine by calling it dogma. They are not angels sent by GOD.

Tough Question:  Being Holy

Question: Brother Jean Elie asked, “Good Morning Brother Jeremy, I have a question regarding some studying I was doing this morning… My question is from 1 Peter 1:15 NLT ‘you must be holy in everything you do just as God who chose you is holy’. What does it mean to be holy in everything you do?

Answer:

Hey Brother Jean! Sorry for not getting back to you this morning but I had some 1st ministry things to take care of before I responded

Holy means to be set apart or consecrated for use by GOD. Naturally, we are not holy in and of ourselves; so, our response to HIS Holiness is to live out an unabashed reverence, faith, right living, availability and humility for HIS Glory. In the Disciples Prayer [Most call it the LORD's Prayer], it begins, by say Our FATHER, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name...our being asked to be holy is synonymous. We must relate to GOD in reverence, faith, right living, availability and humility in recognition of who HE is [i.e. ELOHIM - Creator, YHWH Jireh - The LORD our Provider, etc.]

Also, a great rule of thumb is to read not only the context of the specific scripture but also check to see if there are any cross references. In this case, the very next verse will send you on a trail that ends up in Leviticus 11:44 and other ...

This what they say in the King James...
1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; (16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

And the Apostle Peter pulled that from the Old Testament...

Leviticus 11:44-45 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (45) For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Or…

Leviticus 20:26  And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine. [I am adding this scripture after our Facebook message correspondence]

Now if were to do some word study we would find that “Be ye” comes from the Greek word ginomai. It means to come into being...it implies a process. Given this understanding, the only way unholy people can ascertain holiness is to have it ascribed/imputed and to maintain connectivity with Someone who is Holy. Hence - The command to be holy is a command to maintain relationship on HIS terms...reverently, faithfully, humbly, living right as guided by the SPIRIT in imitation of HIS SON in obedience and available to do good works that others may see them and glorify our GOD...

Do you mind if I use this conversation for tomorrow’s blog? Thank you for the question!!!

I love YOU and I love you

Brother Jeremy A. Maynard

Fun, Family, Friends, Fitness, Finance, Faith and Forecast Friday

Fun:

George Rodriguez, Rob Realz, Elder Jamel McIntosh and I are finishing up a project at Ann Taylor, prepping some workstations and we haven’t stopped laughing since we started the project – in a room with no windows. You see, even in a corporate environment one of the best ways to ensure quality work is to intentionally add joy in the equation. We were diligent in the work and we were hilariously joyfully in our conversations. Bring joy to your co-workers and get the job done with extreme efficiency…win-win.

Comedy: Michael Jr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1X1rWmzhfk&feature=related

Comic Strip: Church Mice and After Eden

Family:

Model thankfulness and your children will be thankful. Model entitlement and your kids will be spoiled. Model peace and the home will remain peaceful. Model war and everyone finds any reason to argue. Micromanaging your children is a set up for future rebellion. Give a task and allow them to formulate a solution but be available for questions. They will grow mature and responsible. Model joy and the home is filled with laughter. Model CHRIST and you will be training them up in the way they should go…

Friends:

Yes, love covers and abundance of sins but sanctioning wickedness is evil. Your friendship is not strong if you are not able to warn, admonish, correct, etc…or your ability to be a friend is not strong if you cannot be corrected.

Fitness:

Oily-fatty fish is excellent for lowering cholesterol and overall health. Here is a site that shows its benefits: http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/features/low-cholesterol-diet-fatty-fish

Finance:

Here is a site stating five good books to read on finance:

http://financialedge.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1210/5-Must-Read-Finance-Books.aspx#axzz1amyJEM2x

Faith:

Do not give in. Stay faithful and loving. Your deliverance has already happened. Your breakthrough is right there within your reach. Press…stretch…Don’t give in

Galatians 6:9  And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Forecast:

OK…so why haven’t you at least started your business plan? Somebody who is going to be blessed is on hold frustrated and they don’t know why….LOL…stop procrastinating and get started. Here is a site with templates to give you some ideas:

http://www.bplans.com/

I love YOU and I love you

Brother Jeremy A. Maynard

Thirsty Thursday: Be a Libation…Be a Drink Offering

Numbers 15:1-2  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  (2)  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you,

Numbers 15:10  And thou shalt bring for a drink offering half an hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Maybe you've done it B.C. We’ve seen it before where some guy with alcohol they are about to drink outdoors will, in sadness,  pour some out to honor someone who has died. We are to honor the Living GOD in a greater more joyful way…

Completion of work is cause for celebration and joy. Libation or the drink offering is the priestly pouring out of strong wine. It was to honor GOD. It was a commemoration of the joy of GOD at the completed works of the Levitical offerings [a type of CHRIST]. It is a symbol of faithful service. It is poured out rather than ingested. The drink offering was not to be done until the children of Israel entered into the Promise Land. In our understanding we realize that the completed work of CHRIST did what the blood of animals could not do. HE was poured out as an offering for our behalf.  In Gethsemane HE asked the FATHER to take this cup from HIM. HE was the cup and HIS Blood was the strong wine – sinless and without blemish. HE was a libation

We are called to be CHRIST-like. As we have entered into Promise, our level of service should serve as a living sacrifice not only to GOD but for each others’ benefit and joy. As a faithful slave of CHRIST [Gk. -doulos], Paul stated such in two verses in two letters in realization that he would die soon:

An Offering To GOD:
2 Timothy 4:6 (ESV) For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

A Joyful Completion For the Glory of GOD and Our Joy:
Philippians 2:17 (Darby Translation) But if also I am poured out as a libation on the sacrifice and ministration of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice in common with you all.

Like Paul and even more so, like our LORD JESUS, let us live with such dedication that at the end it be considered a pouring out to honor ABBA and a joy. Let us tip our cups…our lives to GOD

Let us tip our cups…our lives to GOD

I love YOU and I love you

Watchful Witness Wednesday 10-11-2011

Watching and Praying

Heavenly FATHER,

By the Power of the HOLY SPIRIT and in the matchless name of JESUS, our Redeemer by Whom we live and move and have our being, we thank YOU LORD! We are thankful for YOUR Will, YOUR Design, YOUR easy yoke and YOUR light burden. We repent of our sins of commission and omission. Thank YOU for forgiveness, YHWH…Help our eyes to focus, our ears to distinguish and hearts to receive and perceive YOUR Truth…Hallelujah! Let us herald YOUR Goodness in word, deed, motive and character! Let it be that as other watch us, they see prayer as our lives…not merely part of our lives. Help us as we watch civil uneasiness from corporate injustice being manifested in protest to be answers to prayers for opportunity. Help us stay joyfully committed to godly covenants grow in marital oneness. Please help us be the voice of the martyrs as we die to ourselves, watching and praying and speaking out and warning and…Hallelujah…directing to YOU, no matter the microphone, mobile device or conversation. We love YOU LORD and are seeing the kingdom of this world becoming the Kingdom of YOU our LORD…in JESUS name…Amen

Thought Sparks: Minister Did You Notice?

Did you notice the silence from our government regarding the Pastor being setup to die in Iran? Let us pray for wise and decisive statements and action by our government…

Did you notice that social media has been the rally megaphone for social action? We should post prayers, wisdom and teachings…while we monitor what others are posting and discerning their needs…

Did you notice the stress that the economy is causing on marriages and families? Let us watch, discern and pray for stability…

Did you notice that the media is calling Coptic Christians mowed down in Egypt by the Egyptian Army, merely Copts? Let us watch, pray and be diligent in using social media and other outlets to spread meaningful news…

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/12/us-egypt-military-idUSTRE79B3AD20111012

I love YOU and I love you

Brother Jeremy A. Maynard

Trivia, Terminology and Tough Question Tuesday

Trivia:

Who was Bartholomew in the New Testament?

 Bartholomew was one of JESUS’s Twelve Disciples and thus was an eyewitness of CHRIST’s ministry. He and Nathanael may very well be the same person. In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Bartholomew is in the list of Twelve Disciples and Nathanael is not; however, in Gospel of John, it is reversed – Nathanael is listed in the Twelve and Bartholomew is not. JESUS initially described him as an “Israelite in whom is no guile”. After Pentecost, he evangelized what is now Turkey and met up with Jude. It is said that he carried with him a copy of the Gospel of Matthew

http://www.keyway.ca/htm2005/20051130.htm

http://www.biblepath.com/bartholomew.html  

Terminology: Arminian and Armenian

Armenian - A native of or something pertaining to the ancient or present country Armenia; also, the language of the Armenians. It also refers to an adherent of the Armenian Church, an organization similar in some doctrines and practices to the Greek Church, in others to Roman Catholicism. It is commonly confused as Arminian and Arminianism by uninformed writers. The quality of the research and opinions by those who confuse the two should be considered as inaccurate and unreliable at best.

http://www.gov.am/en/

Arminian, Arminianism - Refers to a type of Protestant theology taught by a Dutch theologian named James Arminius (1560-1609). The key issues that generally identify those that identify with this theology are: a denial of absolute predestination, and an emphasis on the freedom and freewill of man. Most, who are wear the label "Arminian", tend not to adhere to the Baptist doctrine of "Eternal Security" or the Calvinistic doctrine of the "Perseverance of the Saints". A true Arminian admits that man is only free to respond because the Grace of God has enabled him to do so. Those that overemphasize the idea of human freedom and deny the depravity of man at the expense of grace are clearly in the camp of Pelagianism.  Biblical Support for Arminianism

Definitions From: http://www.eternalsecurity.us/biblical_theology_glossary.htm

Tough Question:

Did it rain before the Flood?

Answer: Probably not but I cannot say a definitive no…

Genesis 2:5-6 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.  (6)  But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

The referenced scripture is speaking about the time just before the creation of man. Between this time and the Flood, it is not a slam dunk that did not rain. I lean that way though. The mist may have been enough to sustain plant life. Many believe that the perfect atmosphere of Earth in the time in Genesis was a veritable hyperbaric chamber and that the ideal and moist conditions were a contributing factor in the gigantic sizes of plants and animals as well as their long lives [GOD ordained of course]. Some also believe that there was a layer of water above the atmosphere, which protected plant and animal life from harmful sun rays. The thinking is that this layer of water was permitted to fall to the Earth during the flood; thus exposing all life to life-shortening rays; also, when we couple in the subterranean seas bursting from beneath, you have a global Flood and the associated cataclysmic geographical, topological and atmospheric changes. None of this is 100% verifiable but logical. So, I say no…but not a no written in stone

http://www.sound-doctrine.net/FAQ-RainBeforeFlood.html

http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/FAQ210.html

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2010/10/19/rain-before-flood

I love YOU and I love you

Brother Jeremy A. Maynard

Fun, Family, Friends, Fitness, Finance, Faith and Forecast Friday

Fun:

Fun is an outlook and mindset. Serious things can be fun, so long as a joyous person purposes it to be so. You heard the old adage – do something you love and you will never work a day in your life.

Comedy: Michael Jr. – Pray with Your Neighbor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HXzRwiIaC4&feature=related

                Sports: http://espn.go.com/; http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/

                Movie Trailer: The Encounter - http://www.christianfilmtrailers.com/pureflix/encounter/

               

Family:

Neighborhoods are groups of families in the same location. Nowadays people are not as neighborly as they used to be; however, as families we can learn more about our immediate surroundings and add some new friends just by being conversational and kind. A good neighborhood is a good set of families that look out for one another. By encouraging, helping and being hospitable to your neighbors young and old, you teach your children the value of community. More often than not, great friendships that last a lifetime develop…

Friends:

Be mindful about being appropriate with friends from the opposite sex. If you are married your best friend ought to be your spouse. If you are single be clear. Many get hurt by mixed messages. Enough said…

Fitness:

During these times you should be practical with your money and time. You may have to workout  at home or in the office. You may be limited to just a chair. Here are some exercises you can do from a chair:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIuIDguOmi4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W99u9ZJOxsw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRWfzMTjOj4

Finance:

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki is one of the most influential personal finance books. I suggest you read it if you have not already…

Here is video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D6zaMsZF6E

Faith:

Are you praying and planning to achieve a dream the GOD placed in your heart to bless someone else?

Did you think your faith toward GOD was for your benefit only? Faith is in GOD is not limited to where you are or who you are now…Dream big, trust big…

Hebrews 11:1-3  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  (2)  For by it the elders obtained a good report.  (3)  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Forecast:

Where do you see yourself in the future? Do you have a five year plan? Here is a site with templates and a free e-book to help you fill in the blanks: http://michaelhyatt.com/life-plan

I love YOU and I love you

Brother Jeremy A. Maynard

Thirsty Thursday: Sweet and Sour

Matthew 27:48  And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

John 19:28-29  After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.  (29)  Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

Our sin was bitter and the wine was sour. GRACE is sweet. Now we are salt...

Our LORD did not seek to quench his thirst until ‘all things’ were accomplished. HE fulfilled Psalm 22:15 and Psalm 69:21. The Roman soldiers offer HIM what they normally drank as soldiers. It was vinegar – it was really a sour wine. They placed it on sponge with a sweet smelling herb called hyssop. HE sipped wine just before saying “It is finished”. Reconciliation accomplished…

Thank YOU JESUS!!!

CHRIST-likeness is an all in sacrificial lifestyle. We should quench our thirst after we accomplish what GOD has sent us to do…

Our sin was bitter and the wine was sour. GRACE is sweet. Now we are salt...

I love YOU and I love you

Brother Jeremy 

Watchful Witness Wednesday 10-5-2011: Truth, Faith and Order

Watching and Praying

Heavenly FATHER,

YOU are the Maker of Heaven and Earth, our LORD and our GOD! YOU sent YOUR only Begotten SON, Y’SHUA our YHWH and SAVIOR to give us access…to reconcile us back to YOU to minister to others. We thank YOU for loving us! Hallelujah…we ask as we watch and pray that you anoint us to walk out as disciples what you have washed our feet to accomplish. Our enlistment was a rescue. Thank YOU DADDY! We are willing soldiers in YOUR army where the Truth is the KING. Strengthen us to watch, pray and serve YOU and others as ourselves. We ask that those being buffeted by persecution see YOUR Deliverance and Glory…that those in distress receive YOUR provision, purpose and peace. Let there be conviction of the greedy, LORD…those with money and those without money. Refocus us on YOU! Only by true worship, the confluence of the HOLY SPIRIT and Truth in our lives, actions and decisions can we display the level of faith to accomplish what YOU send us to do. We are mere envelopes with YOUR Word in our bodies. Thank YOU for stamping us, sealing us and delivering us in JESUS name…Amen

We are Letters from GOD…Delivered to deliver [sent out to accomplish]

Thought Sparks: Minister Did You Notice?

Minister have you noticed that the culture has attempted to mythologize core beliefs like Heaven, Hell and even CHRIST HIMSELF? We must study to show ourselves approved and prayerfully engage the culture with knowledge, wisdom and understanding…

Minister have you noticed the silence from governmental and informational gatekeepers regarding the life of Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani who did the opposite of Peter in affirming thrice his devotion to CHRIST under the threat of death? We ought to pray not only for his release but that our faith be butrressed to the degree that if we faced the same choice we would do the same…

http://www.google.com/search?aq=1&oq=Iranian+past&gcx=c&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=iranian+pastor+sentenced+to+death&safe=active

Ministers have you noticed the growing numbers joining the protest against the banks and Wall Street? There is clearly a spillover effect against greed. We should pray for GOD’s presence, order and the repentance of the greedy resulting in opportunities. Order is the foundation of peace is the evidence of our ABBA’s presence. Let us A. S. K. – ask , seek and knock so that opportunity knocks for others and ourselves…

http://www.usatoday.com/video/index.htm?bctid=1198349575001&csp=taboola

I love YOU and I love you

Brother Jeremy A. Maynard

Trivia, Terminology and Tough Question Tuesday - 10-4-2011

Trivia:

Who was Mark that the HOLY SPIRIT used to write the Gospel of Mark?

Mark was known as John Mark was a disciple [spiritual son] of Peter from whom he received firsthand accounts t provide the information he wrote. He was also a traveling helper and attendant of Paul and his cousin Barnabas [see Acts 13]. He was not one of the Twelve Disciples. The Gospel of Mark seemed to target newly believing Gentiles as its audience.

http://www.keyway.ca/htm2001/20010804.htm

Terminology: Amillennialism

amillennialism (Latin)
The end-times or eschatological belief that the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ, described in the book of Revelation, is spiritual or symbolical and that it pertains to the current time. This current time will end with the return of Jesus Christ.

Here is a chart to look at different eschatological beliefs: http://www.spiritone.com/~wing/esc_chrt.htm

Tough Question:  Is the suicide of a believer forgivable?

Answer: yes

Many in error say it is…however…It is not the unforgivable sin. There are many martyrs who intentionally gave up their lives in order to uphold their position of faith, including most of CHRIST’s disciples. The only sin that is unforgivable is blaspheming the HOLY SPIRIT. Is broken fellowship grounds for losing salvation, assuming a believer in a moment of extreme weakness commits willful non-heroic suicide? Has CHRIST only died for the sins we repented for before we accepted HIM? Now the counter is can a genuine Christian ever make the decision to take their life in the first place? I doubt they would.

Matthew 12:31-32  Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.  (32)  And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Consider this: http://www.bibleissues.org/suicide.html

Also, know as my Pastor teaches that suicide because of difficult problems is a permanent solution to a temporary problem…

Family…Give your burdens to the LORD, whose back was brutally braced by a cross to carry them. HE loves you and has made a way of escape. Your life is valuable…

Heavenly FATHER,

YOU are love and YOU are faithful! By the SPIRIT please touch and comfort those in extremely depressing and difficult situations. Please keep them from making rash decisions and grow them in faith. Please send a Word and encouragement any every form…human being, entertainment, something they see or hear or feel to break the depredating trance and bind the demonic spirit of suggestion and depression that they come to YOU. YOUR strength is made perfect in weakness. For YOUR yoke is easy and YOUR burden is light…YOU are worthy and YOU are life therefore life is beyond worth living. YOU understand their cries and dilemma…as my Sister Mo [Maurette Brown Clark] sings…It ain’t over, until YOU say its over, so we keep fighting until the victory is won!!! We thank YOU LORD for deliverance and victory in JESUS name…Amen

I love YOU and I love you

Brother Jeremy A. Maynard

Men’s Ministry Monday: A Lasting Will and Testament: Leaving a Legacy Part 1

Patrimony! Patrimony! Patrimony! – look it up, learn it, live it and leave it. Leave something more than your last name and your genes to your children and future generations. What you leave behind should be valuable, meaning worth keeping…Some things worth holding on to – some heirlooms if you will…semi-literally and figuratively some gems – things for their spirit, soul, body and accounts [and account means more than just where they keep money. It also means a personal version of a story. I mean it in both senses]…

(Proverbs 13:22)  A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

(Hebrews 9:16-17) For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. (17) For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

A few Sundays ago, just before leaving for church, I was standing the vestibule of our home. My beautiful wife, Doreene, was still getting a few things done inside before we leave as is her routine. I asked my two sons to open the gate in front of the driveway. My third and extremely entertaining six year old child, Jeremiah, eagerly rushed to help. He was wearing brand new shoes his mother had just bought him the day before. Running across the front lawn, he said, “I’ll do it!” Side note: include your children in the day to day processes so that help and responsibility become second nature not a spirit of entitlement…

So, Jeremiah runs and opens both sides of the gate. I thank him. Proud of himself he races his big brother, Ellington, to get into the back seat of my SUV. I begin to strap in my youngest daughter in her baby seat, when collectively we all began asking “what is that horrible smell?” Apparently, an animal had left something behind and Jeremiah stepped in it. Jeremiah had tracked feces so bad it was on his brand new shoes, his booster seat, his pant leg, door frame of my truck and the floor mat. I rush to get him everything clean and my beautiful but already frustrated wife is just about to come out…very upset, she addresses Jeremiah with language not quite as colorful as GOD’s promise not to flood the Earth again but very firmly. I reassured him that we all make mistakes while gently rubbing the side of his face. Side note: reassurance and meaningful touch are vital for children…

As we cleaned him and everything else up the concern was whether any feces was tracked in the house and whether any of the stench remained on us as we headed to church. We still made it on time and received a word from Dr. A. R. Bernard that blessed our lives. Side note: plan to leave early and even if something happens, you’ll be on time…

Brothers, you never leave behind nothing! You always leave something. You choose what you leave. However, too many of us are leaving behind things like that animal on my lawn…Things that will putrefy our kids’ walks. Things that they will track in their future homes and in the house of the LORD…that requires cleansing [sins, debt, poor and unhealthy habits, stress, abusive talk or outright abuse, sexual perversion, frustration, bitterness, fear, indecisiveness, confusion, self-defensiveness, addictions, acting out, jaundiced view of others] – instead, let us leave a legacy, a will and a testament worth carrying forth – a sweet smelling savor! What are these – legacy, a will and a testament? In the coming weeks, I will delve deeper into each of them but for now, I will only begin to tackle legacy. So what is legacy?

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=legacy&searchmode=none

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/legacy

Legacy – leaving gifts and a standard to be honored, upheld or denounced as an inheritance [they have a choice]. It is now understood to mean merely something left behind for others to remember you after you die. It meant so much more in the onset.  Legacy initially meant to send a group of legates, envoys, emissaries, ambassadors or foreign diplomats aka delegates ahead of you to state and facilitate your will and purpose beyond your physical [living or dead] reach or availability. They were to bring a clear message of what you stood for, intended as representatives executors of your estate, priesthood and kingdom.

They had power of attorney. So, your children, students, mentees, congregations do not merely receive your legacy, they are your legacy. Also, we are all CHRIST’s legacy and HE is our attorney of all power and glory. Our legacy of faith goes back to before the foundation of the world. We to pass to all who we mentor and minister to the baton or torch of faith passed to us. Our legacy is a legacy of lived and modeled faith.

So what gifts or standards should we leave to our children as legacy?

1)      A Trust Fund and Savings Account- Our faith in JESUS, how HE saved us, our testimony lived in front of them

2)      Partnership [The Family Business]  - Our devotion to our wives

3)      Mutual Funds - Availability - Our presence, investment, involvement and guidance toward their future

4)      Philanthropic Ventures – charity begins at home but does not end there. Let your children see you invested in the lives of a variety of others

5)      Cultural Endowment – invest in and influence the entertainment and educational choices they make

When you leave…and we all will leave unless CHRIST returns before you pass…in the interim die to yourself and when you leave, leave them as a legacy. Launch the arrows in your quiver on fire for the LORD

I love YOU and I love you

Brother Jeremy A. Maynard